By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Severe thunderstorms accompanied by winds up to 60 mph and hail slammed Indiana and Ohio Friday night just as fireworks shows were getting under way.

Three people were injured - one seriously - in Avondale when a tree fell on a backyard barbecue on Rockdale Avenue about 9:30 p.m. The trio, who were not identified, were taken to University Hospital. Their conditions were not available late Sunday night.

Winds knocked trees and power lines into homes and roadways across the region as the storm swept through from 9 to 11 p.m., leaving thousands without power in Blue Ash, Madeira, Montgomery and other east-side communities, residents and law enforcement personnel reported.

Cinergy officials could not be reached for comment.

Power lines were reported down on roads in Mount Washington, Glendale, Mount Lookout and Middletown, among other places. Numerous power transformers blew up or were damaged across the region, emergency dispatchers said.

A tree smashed an unoccupied minivan in Wyoming and fell on a Greenpine Drive house in Springfield Township. And in Ludlow, a police officer escaped injury when his cruiser was damaged as power lines fell.

In Springfield Township, firefighters were recalled to handle details for a dozen instances of trees and wires downed, authorities there said.

Police in Middletown evacuated onlookers from the annual fireworks show because of the high wind and lightning. Residential streets in Montgomery County, which includes Dayton, Ohio, were closed because of water, a sheriff's deputy said.

And in Indiana, authorities in Boone County north of Indianapolis reported that several tornados touched down. But there were no reported damages or injuries, a dispatcher said.

In Ohio, tornado warnings were issued for Mercer and Van Wert counties, but they were allowed to expire, said meteorologist Toby Tenharmsel of the National Weather Service in Syracuse, Ind.

Winds gusted up to 60 mph, and the storm produced nearly 1-inch hail, Tenharmsel said.

Fireworks were cancelled for the downtown riverfront All-American Birthday Party, the Mount Lookout show in Ault Park, and in Florence, Wyoming and Middletown.

Florence officials said Friday night that city's fireworks were rescheduled for tonight at 9:30 at the Florence Municipal Center, 8100 Ewing St.

Middletown also has rescheduled fireworks for 9:45 tonight at Bicentennial Commons.

The Associated Press contributed. E-mail kgoetz@enquirer.com