BREAKING: Woman and her two dogs killed after being struck by lightning during a thunderstorm

Antonia Mendoza Chavez, 52, was killed Wednesday along with her two dogs during a thunderstorm in San Gabriel Riverbed in the Pico Rivera borough of Los Angeles County

A 52-year-old woman and her two dogs were killed by lightning during a thunderstorm.

The body of Antonia Mendoza Chavez was found along with those of her pets Wednesday morning on a trail along the San Gabriel Riverbed in Pico Rivera in Los Angeles County.

Police and paramedics were photographed on site.

Pico Rivera City Manager Steve Carmona said: “We should all be cautious with this activity in the area.

“We want everyone to be careful. There’s a lot of instability in the air. Just be careful and do your best to stay indoors at this time.”

Are you affected by this incident? Let us know at webnews@mirror.co.uk

Ms. Chavez became the first person in the country to die from a lightning strike that year.

Lightning deaths are rare in California, only nine people have died since 2006.

The Los Angeles branch of the National Weather Service said on Twitter that San Gabriel Valley residents warned residents of another downpour and “dangerous lightning” after the incident.

Resident Mary Perez tells KABC: “I’m afraid. I told my granddaughter and her friend she doesn’t go to school, I’ll take her with me. I think more about the flash. Not that I never thought about doing that. It’s just awful.”

Ms. Chavez’s landlord said she walked the same route every morning.

Gloria Colocho said after hearing someone had died, she desperately tried to get in touch with her tenant.

She told ABC7: “I called her and texted her and she didn’t reply and the message didn’t go through to the phone.

“I called her and it went straight to voicemail and from there I felt like it was her. I checked my camera … she left around 7:30 a.m. and I see her with her two dogs and she left the house and she didn’t come back at all.”