Are you someone who suffers from irrational fears? Like you simply can’t do heights or tall buildings because you have a fear of falling? Or whenever you’re on a plane that’s experiencing a little bit of turbulence, you immediately think you’re going to crash? Unfortunately, you can add another one to that list. A woman in South Carolina was dining out at a lakeside restaurant when strong winds caused a patio umbrella to blow away from a table. Tragically, the woman was hit in the head and neck by the umbrella, resulting in her death.
A woman was struck and killed at a lakeside restaurant over Memorial Day weekend.
A married couple was enjoying a nice dinner at a restaurant on Lake Marion in South Carolina when strong winds caused a patio umbrella to forcefully strike her causing her death, according to ABC 7.
According to Jacqueline Blackwell, the Clarendon County coroner, the woman was identified as 56-year-old Dana Weigner of Huger, South Carolina, per KTVB.
According to Blackwell, Clarendon County received a call just after 7:30 p.m. May 23, 2026, reporting that there was an unresponsive woman at Driftwood Grill, home of the Lazy Gator, which is near Palmetto Shores Campground on Lake Marion.
When first responders arrived, they found Weigner with injuries to her neck and neck, per KTVB.
The 56-year-old was declared dead at the restaurant.
An emergency crew found Weigner had lacerations on her head and neck area. Life-saving measures were attempted, but sadly, she was declared dead at the scene, KTVB reported.
Officials are calling the incident a “tragic accident.” Blackwell told KTVB that seeing something like this happen is not an “everyday occurence,” adding, “This is just one of those tragic things that happen.”
Blackwell also told KTVB that officials and emergency managers will be reviewing the weather conditions from that evening to get a better understanding of what might have happened at the time.
“It was a strong, strong wind, like a microburst that came through and knocked not just the umbrella, it knocked all of the furniture and other debris came onto where they were sitting,” she told KTVB.
Restaurant staff and the community are reeling from this unexpected incident.
Officials said Weigner was with her husband and other family members at the time of the accident, KTVB reported.
Blackwell said it was a “large crowd” dining together that evening. “It was very emotional for him, and I spoke with the owners of the restaurant, and they say all the family members were gathered there as well.”
How heartbreaking for all of them.
Driftwood Grill shared a statement on social media on Sunday that read in part, “This has deeply affected many people in our community, including guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved. Out of respect for the family and those impacted, we ask for continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” ABC 7 reported.
The restaurant also held a support session on Monday with authorities, chaplains, and others who were affected by the incident, per ABC 7.
Our thoughts go out to Dana Weigner’s family and community during this incredibly difficult time.
