An 8-year-old girl died after being struck by lightning on Friday evening in LaSalle County, Illinois, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred in the backyard of her home in Serena, located roughly 70 miles southwest of Chicago.

Emergency responders were called to OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa following the strike. The LaSalle County coroner’s office said an autopsy conducted Sunday confirmed the cause of death as injuries related to the lightning strike. The girl’s identity has not been released.

At the time, the National Weather Service reported rain and thunderstorms moving through the area. Zachary Yack, a meteorologist with the agency, noted that being outdoors during a thunderstorm significantly increases the risk of lightning strikes.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation by the LaSalle County coroner’s office and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s office.