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Lightning, fire destroy 'Touchdown Jesus' statue on I-75 in front of Solid Rock Church | cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com
MONROE – Lightning struck and ignited a fire late Monday that destroyed a 62-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms stretched toward the skies, according to Monroe police.
“It burned to the ground. The whole statue is gone,” said Kim Peace, a police dispatcher.
The large “King of Kings” statue was a Butler County landmark since it was erected in 2004 outside Solid Rock Church, 904 N. Union Rd., along northbound Interstate 75 in Monroe just north of the Ohio 63 exit.
• Photos: The "King of Kings" statue
Fire crews were called to the church at 11:15 p.m. after several people phoned 911 to report the blaze as a severe thunderstorm swept through Greater Cincinnati, producing a spectacular lightning show, Peace said.
“The lightning was just amazing,” she said, wryly adding: “It was a lot of fun in here last night.”
When fire crews arrived, they found the statue fully involved and an adjacent amphitheater burning. The fire extended into the attic of the amphitheater, destroyed equipment, before fire crews contained it, Peace said.
No injuries were reported. Fire officials are expected to release a damage estimate after 10 a.m. Tuesday.
As fire gorged the iconic statue, several motorists along I-75 pulled over to photograph the sight.
That prompted troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol to respond and patrol the area to prevent a traffic jam and potential accidents, according to the patrol’s Lebanon post.
Calls to the pastor of the church were not immediately returned.
