A lightning strike at an archery range in Jackson Township, New Jersey, on Wednesday evening has left one person dead and 13 others injured, according to local police. The incident occurred at the Black Knight Bowbenders range shortly before 7:15 p.m. local time.
Police Chief Matthew Kunz confirmed that a 61-year-old man was killed in the strike. The victims, ranging in age from 7 to 61, suffered injuries including burns and complaints of feeling unwell. One person briefly lost consciousness, and CPR was administered to another individual, though it is unclear if they were the same person.
Gene Grodzki, a member of the archery club, reported that a defibrillator was used on two other club members. He added that approximately 20 members of Jackson Scouts Troop 204 were present at the time, but all children appeared unharmed.
Governor Phil Murphy expressed condolences on social media, stating he had been briefed on the incident and urging prayers for those affected. The National Weather Service notes that lightning strikes kill about 20 people annually in the United States, with hundreds more injured.
This incident follows a recent lightning strike on a New Jersey golf course that killed a 28-year-old man, and a separate strike in New York's Central Park that left a 15-year-old boy with second-degree burns but expected to recover fully.
