A woman died after being struck by a dislodged umbrella at Driftwood Grill Home of the Lazy Gator in Summerton, South Carolina, on Saturday night. Dana Weinger, 56, was dining with family when a gust of wind caused the umbrella to become airborne, hitting her in the neck and severing her carotid artery, according to Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley. Emergency medical services found Weinger unresponsive at the scene, and she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Clarendon County Coroner Jacqueline Blackwell stated that the incident was unusual, describing the wind as a strong microburst that affected not only the umbrella but also other furniture in the area. Blackwell noted that Weinger's husband was visibly emotional following the incident. The restaurant expressed condolences on social media, stating that the event had deeply affected the community and that they were coordinating with local officials to provide grief counseling for staff and community members.