Officials confirmed that two people died in lightning strikes that struck a park north of the White House Thursday night. Two other people were also in critical condition.
Dustin Sternbeck, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department, stated that James Mueller, 76, was killed and Donna Mueller, 75, was declared dead. The couple, both from Janesville, Wis. were at Lafayette Square, across Pennsylvania Avenue, from the White House when lightning struck.
Sternbeck stated that the other two victims, which were identified only by authorities as West Coast residents, were in critical condition.
Vito Maggiolo, a spokesman for Washington’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, said that around 6:50 p.m., two men and two women were in Lafayette Square when lightning struck in their “immediate vicinity.”
Mr. Maggiolo stated that Secret Service agents and United States Park Police officers were present nearby and immediately assisted in providing assistance. The four men were seen standing near trees in the seven acre park when lightning struck. They were taken to nearby hospitals.
“Trees of course are not safe places” during storms, he said.
After a day with scorching temperatures in the upper 90s on Wednesday, strong storms swept through Washington, prompting flash flood watches and severe thunderstorm warnings throughout this region.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lightning strikes are unlikely to occur in any given year. Nearly 90 percent of those who are struck by lightning survive. According to the agency there have been 444 lightning-related deaths in the United States over the past six years. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), nine people have died in lightning strikes in the USA so far in 2022.
Amanda HolpuchContributed reporting
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