A body found in a yard in New Haven Saturday morning was identified as James Mitchell, 18, of Fort Wayne. The Allen County Coroner says Mitchell died of a lightning strike.

New Haven Police say a passing motorist reported a person down in the front yard in the 100 block of Rose Avenue in New Haven Saturday morning around 8 a.m.

Police officers and paramedics found Mitchell unresponsive and pronounced him dead at the scene.

According to the National Weather Service, more than 400 people in the United States are struck by lightning every year.

Interestingly, nearly 85% of those victims are men.

60 victims a year are killed by lightning. Many others are left with devastating and permanent injuries.

In this incident, it is believed that the fatal lightning strike occurred during the early morning hours Saturday, May 1, 2010, when a series of thunderstorms passed through the area.

"Early Saturday morning between about 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning, we actually saw some thunderstorms rolling through the area and with those we were seeing quite a few lightning strikes. That's probably when this young man was either struck by lightning or the tree that he was standing next to got hit by lightning," said Indiana's NewsCenter Meteorologist Jason Meyers.

To stay safe during thunderstorms, the National Weather Service has an easy safety tip, "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors".

The case remains under investigation by the New Haven Police Department and the Allen County Coroners Office.