Three people have died in a lightning strike near the White House.including a couple who had traveled to the US capital to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary, the municipal police reported Friday.
Lightning struck Thursday during a sudden summer storm near the equestrian statue of the seventh US president, Andrew Jackson, which is located in Lafayette Parkjust north of the White House.
As a result of the lightning strike, four people (two men and two women) were seriously injuredexplained Thursday night at a press conference the spokesman for the fire department of the US capital, Vito Maggiolo.
It is believed that the four were sheltering from the rain under some trees when the lightning struckaccording to Maggiolo.
They were so close to the White House that The first to provide them with medical assistance were the agents who patrol the park and the members of the Secret Service, who are in charge of guarding the presidential mansion.
All four were taken to hospital Thursday in critical condition. Friday evening, Washington municipal police confirmed the death of a 29-year-old man whose identity has not been revealed out of respect for the family, which is being notified of the death.
Police also reported Friday morning the death of a couple neighbor of the town of Janesville (Wisconsin): James Mueller, 76, and his wife Donna, 75.
The couple they met when they were in high school and had traveled to the US capital to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversaryaccording to the local Fox News network in Washington.
They were almost retired: James Mueller had his own business and Donna had served as teacheralthough he was now working in a furniture store in Janesville.
They had five children, ten grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.according to Fox News.
It’s a statement, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre expressed “sadness” at the “tragic” deaths.
“Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones and we pray for those who are still fighting for their lives,” the spokeswoman said.
The person who is still hospitalized for lightning injuries is a womanr, but his identity is unknown.
On its website, the US National Weather Service warns that lightning usually strikes tall objects, so it is not advisable to take shelter under a tree during a storm.
On average, About 23 people a year die from lightning strikes in the United States.according to the National Lightning Safety Council, a group created to educate about the phenomenon.
According to that organization, The three deaths this Friday in Washington are the first caused by lightning since 1991when a teenager was killed and ten other people were injured.