A couple from Janesville, Wisconsin, died from a lightning strike. in Lafayette Square, public park on the right next to the White House.
A couple from Janesville, Wisconsin, died from a lightning strike. in Lafayette Square, public park on the right next to the White House.
The other two were left with critical injury Thursday night.
DC police told WTOP that the couple died overnight. The police are yet to reveal their identities.
The strike took place when a violent storm passed through region bringing with their thunder, lightning and heavy rain.
“On the arrival we found four patients,” said DC Fire and EMS spokesman Vito Maggiolo. All four suffered critical, life-threatening injury. We were able to quickly treat and deliver these four people to area hospitals.”
Two men and two women we found near the cluster of trees, and it wasn’t right away clear were they hit directly lightning or they were struck by a falling tree.
“I can’t describe the injuries,” Maggiolo said. “All of us know for sure it was a lightning strike in their immediate vicinity, and all four were injured.”
A clear lightning strike in Lafayette Park in the northwest. #DCsBravest on scene in process of treatment and transport of 4 patients, all in critical condition. rice.twitter.com/1jyCh44Q2n
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) August 4, 2022
Maggiolo emphasized that their location was not safe during difficult times weather.
“Every time there’s lightning, you should go home or you should go to the safe place,” he said. “Trees of Certainly not a safe place. So anyone who goes to seek shelter under a tree, it is very dangerous place to be.”
Officials with The US Secret Service and US Park Police were nearby and were able to help, potentially saving their lives, Maggiolo said.
“I want thank them for the fact that their agents and their officers witnessed this lightning strike and immediately began to provide assistance to the four victims,” said Maggiolo.
The incident looked like one it happened a couple of years ago, when members of the National Guard in DC due to protests in June of 2020.
two members of National Guardsmen struck by lightning in Lafayette Square where they were.
Mike Jakaitis of WTOP contributed to this report.
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