Two of the four people who were apparently struck by lightning Thursday near the White House have died, Washington police said.
James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, are a couple from Janesville, Wisconsin, police said.
Four people were left in critical condition after a flash of light and thunder struck Lafayette Park in northwest D.C. as severe thunderstorms swept through the region, fire officials said.
D.C. police are expected to release more information about the conditions of the other two victims later Friday.
Four people are in critical condition after they were apparently struck by lightning near the White House in Washington Thursday night, fire officials said.
U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Park Police officers rushed to help Mueller and the other man and woman when they saw the lightning strike, DC Fire and EMS public information officer Vito Maggiolo said earlier.
The victims were in Lafayette Square across from the White House and were near the central statue of former President Andrew Jackson as well as a tree, Maggiolo said.
Medics took the women and men to area hospitals. Maggiolo said he could not elaborate on their exact injuries.
“All we know for sure is that there was a lightning strike near them, in close proximity to them, and all four of them were injured,” Maggiolo said.
A total of 444 people died from lightning strikes between 2006 and 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deaths from lightning strikes are most likely in the summer and most often happen to people who are vacationing or working outside.
“I was just in a state of shock,” said witness David Root. “I just couldn’t believe it. It was surreal. I have never seen anything like it in my entire life.”
He described hearing a “terrifying boom”.
He said he goes to Lafayette Square every night with a group to show support for the people of Ukraine. When the rain started to fall, he hid under a tree until he saw the lightning strike the park.
Without thinking, he sprang into action to save a man’s life.
“We saw a couple of people by a tree and they weren’t moving, so I ran over there to try to help,” Ruth said. “A couple of people ran over there and I gave him chest compressions with another person. We took turns.”
“We were standing there and suddenly there was this terrible sound,” said witness Anna Mackiewicz, who is visiting from Poland. “We started screaming and my husband said, ‘Let’s just run.’ I saw out of the corner of my eye. I saw, you know, the light.
“I just hope and pray that these people survive,” Ruth said. “That’s the most important thought on my mind right now.”
Thunderstorms moved through D.C. and surrounding areas around 6:30 p.m. The severe weather drenched parts of the region after a sweltering day with temperatures in the mid-90s and heat indexes above 100.
The National Weather Service says everyone should go inside if they hear thunder.
“Avoid open areas. Do not be the tallest object in the area,” says an NWS safety brochure. “Stay away from isolated tall trees, towers or poles. Lightning tends to strike taller objects in the area.”
Stay with News4 for updates on this developing story
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