Lightning strikes like this happen quite frequently over here in South Africa @ackhoo it can split the tree in half, one side lives the other dies off.
Something we were taught from young is never stand under a tree during a lightning storm!
Very effective photography in monochrome.
We have a very high rate of lightning strikes here too, unfortunately hitting people sheltering/being in all the wrong places! Not that often, trees though - maybe because the vegetation here is too lush, and close together. Oh yes, no standing under tree is well-known but many still do - not sure what they're thinking!!!