Nation’s first 2 lightning deaths reported in NJ, Georgia

Florida driver survives after bolt strikes car’s antenna

The first two lightning-related deaths were reported last week as the storm season gets off to a booming start. Meanwhile, one Florida man walked away after his car was struck by a bolt on Interstate 75.

First, a 15-year-old girl was struck and killed Saturday while swimming at the beach on Tybee Island, Georgia, according to the National Lightning Safety Council. Three days prior to that, 70-year-old Michael Ward was golfing in Burlington

County, New Jersey when he too was struck and killed, the NLSC reported.

Most years record at least 20 lightning deaths a year, with 2020 being an exception, NLSC records show. The 2020 year observed 17 deaths related to lightning. Although, experts at the NLSC suspect this number may be low because of the lack of news coverage as lightning news was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cloud-to-ground lightning incidents occur much more frequently with the beginning of summer, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Florida is no exception as the Sunshine State is also known for having the most cloud-to-ground lightning in the country, according to an analysis by Vaisala Corporation, a global weather surveillance company.

Last year, three of the 17 recorded deaths took place in Florida, with one having happened as nearby to Orlando as Apopka, according to the NLSC. The incident took place on Sept. 26 while 58-year-old Jesus Perez was grilling in a residential yard. Perez was hit by a bolt of lightning while standing next to a tree, NLSC records show. Other Florida deaths included: 41-year-old Jose Rivera who died on May 27 while working on a resident’s lawn in Port St. Lucie, and 35-year-old Raul Rome Teoba who died while doing roof work on May 28 in Middleburg.

Most recently, however, a South Florida man walked away unscathed after his car was struck by lightning Monday morning on Interstate 75, according to the Florida

Highway Patrol. The 48-year-old man was driving his Nissan on I-75 in Broward County when the car was struck, according to a FOX 35 report. The car’s antenna was hit, damaging the vehicle’s electrical system, and left a 7-foot long gouge in the pavement, FHP reported. The Nissan was left disabled and required a tow, FOX 35 reported.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention warns those who outside and encounter lightning storms should seek shelter immediately. However, the CDC also warns to not stand under tall objects or lone trees as a means of safety. Also, if you happen to find yourself in a group, the CDC recommends group members separate to reduce the number of injuries if lightning strikes the ground.