A lightning strike near the White House at Lafayette Park left two dead and two in critical condition on Thursday, a D.C. police spokesman said in a news conference on Friday.
76-year-old James Mueller and 75-year-old Donna Meuller — both from Janesville, Wisconsin — were identified as the fatal victims,ABC Newsreported.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. in the center of the park, about 100 ft. from the statue of Andrew Jackson, fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo said at a news briefing Thursday night,The Washington Postreported.
DC Fire & EMS/Twitter
After the strike, the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Park Police were first on the scene and provided life-saving aid until paramedics arrived,Fox Weatherreported.
D.C. Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment but in the news conference, authorities did not disclose whether the victims were tourists or knew about the incoming storm.
Before the thunderstorm, the National Weather Service had issued asevere thunderstorm warningfor the area Thursday evening, Fox Weather reported.
Doppler radar showed strong storms moving through the region shortly before 7 p.m., the outlet reported.
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The council’s recommendation for when it storms is direct: go indoors. “No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area,” the council stated. “When thunder roars, go indoors!”
source: people.com
