Lightning strike in NY injures five

Five people were struck by lightning at Mansion Square Park in Poughkeepsie Friday evening, according to the Associated Press and National Weather Service. Police said three of the victims were unresponsive and that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered before they were taken to Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie shortly after the incident was reported at 4:06 p.m. Poughkeepsie is about two hours north of the city.

Three of the people have life-threatening injuries and two have less-severe injuries, Rolison said.

Police said the people are 46 to 55 years old and had been gathered around a park bench. Two others remained critical but stable Saturday morning.

The bolt hit two days after a man and a woman were killed by an apparent lightning strike in a western NY cemetery.

The other two were transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital where they are being treated for their injuries.

It is incredibly rare to be struck by lightning, and there have only been 26 lightning deaths nationwide so far this year. Florida has seen more lightning fatalities – six – than any other state this year.