Lightning strikes twice outside White House with two dead and two critical
A freak lightning storm outside the White House left two people dead and another two fighting for their lives as the US president’s Secret Service rushed to prevent a worse tragedy.
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A wild thunderstorm in Washington DC left two dead after a lightning strike near the White House, according to police.
With another two in critical conditions suffering life-threatening injuries, the death toll may have been double if not for Secret Service agents on the scene to render first aid.
James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, of Janesville, Wisconsin, were in Lafayette Park, directly outside the White House, when the lightning struck, police confirmed to CBS News on Friday local time.
They died of their injuries. Police have not released the identities of the man and woman who rain fighting for their lives from the same lightning strike.
A CBS News camera recording on the White House North Lawn when its crew filmed the lightning and thunder.
“The thunder was so loud, @gabrielle_ake and I jumped up in fright,” CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes tweeted.
“’That’s too close - we’re shutting down’ advised photographer Ron Windham.”
Our camera was rolling on the White House North Lawn tonight when lightning struck Lafayette Park nearby, injuring four. The thunder was so loud, @gabrielle_ake and I jumped up in fright. “That’s too close — we’re shutting down†advised photographer Ron Windham. pic.twitter.com/oTtU9VeQBw
— Nancy Cordes (@nancycordes) August 5, 2022
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Service spokesman Vito Maggiolo said all four victims were standing near a statue of former US president Andrew Jackson when the lightning struck at 6.52 pm local time Thursday evening.
“It appeared they were in the vicinity of a tree,” he added.
Maggiolo told CBS News that uniformed Secret Service agents and US Park Police nearby witnessed the strike.
“Their agents, their officers, witnessed this lightning strike and immediately began to render aid,” Maggiolo said.
“What I want to do is thank them because their agents, their officers witnessed this lightning strike and immediately began to render aid to the four victims which is very critical in helping with survivability.”
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed sadness at the “tragic loss of life after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park.”
“Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives,” the statement said.
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