CSW broke the story first: At 4:45pm Saturday afternoon- Jefferson county-KS fire and EMS units were sent to the 6900 block of U.S. 25 highway west of Perry- a caller reported they had been following a motorcyclist who was struck by lightning.
The caller indicated 2 people were on the cycle- but actually a 2nd cyclist was riding next to the driver who was struck. Both cycles crashed.
EMS arrived about 10 minutes later and reported the man struck by the bolt dead-on-arrival. The second driver was "up and walking around" EMS said.
That was the cut-and dried story.
A severe thunderstorm over southern Jefferson county-KS on Saturday afternoon. This view looking northwest from downtown Lawrence-KS.
What is later learned is that the victim was a 45-year-old Lawrence man who was riding with a group of 10 other riders on a charitable mission. The man riding next to the victim was 35-year-old Michael Robinson of Gardner-KS.. Mr. Robinson suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from a Topeka medical center.
The group the 2 men were riding with was the Kansas branch of Bikers Against Child Abuse. They reportedly were returning after visiting some past victims they had helped.
In my more than 40 years of weather study and weather-news media exposure I've NEVER heard of a motorcyclist going down a highway who was struck by lightning and killed.
This incident was particularily tragic- and our condolences go out to the victim's family and friends..
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1 comment:
1.) Try a spell checker (e.g. Topka Medical Center)
2.) Search again, unfortunately this is far and away not the first motorcyclist struck and killed by lightning while riding. If you'd like more info, search for Dr. Mary Ann Cooper and lightning. She'd have the raw numbers for you.
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