PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 61-year-old man died and 14 other people were injured after lightning struck an outdoor archery range Wednesday evening in Jackson Township, New Jersey.
It happened around 7:15 p.m. at Black Knight Bowbenders.
Medics from six different townships responded to the scene to help administer aid. One person required CPR, one suffered burns, and another lost and then regained consciousness. The victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Gene Grodzki, a volunteer and instructor at the archery range, said there was no rain or thunder before the lightning struck.
“Dirt went flying everywhere and when I turned around, there were at least seven people down on the ground flat,” he said. “It was the loudest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
He said the archery range was holding a charity event with about a dozen Boy Scouts and their parents. The youngest victim is 7 years old.
Grodzki said he performed CPR on 61-year-old Robert Montgomery, but he later died.
In a statement on X, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said, “Please pray for everyone involved in this tragic incident.”
Another fatal lightning strike
A New Jersey man who was struck by lightning while playing golf last week with his father has died.
Officials said 28-year-old Simon Mariani was on the 15th hole of the Ballyowen course in North Jersey on July 8 when he was suddenly struck by a bolt of lightning. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he died on Monday.
Witnesses said there was never a warning about lightning from course managers. They claim that the horns to get off the course were not blown until after police arrived. The golf course said warning horns were sounded as soon as the weather was deemed unsafe.