Children are among those injured after a sudden lightning strike in Jackson Township, New Jersey, according to officials.

Jackson Township

A sudden lightning strike at the Black Knight Bowbenders outdoor archery range in Jackson Township, New Jersey, resulted in the death of 61-year-old Robert Montgomery and injuries to 14 others, many of whom were children. Witnesses reported no warning signs such as thunder or rain before the strike, which occurred during a Scouts competition attended by children and their parents.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene, where victims ranged in age from seven to 61. At least one person suffered burns and another was knocked unconscious. The incident is part of a recent pattern of lightning-related injuries in the region. Local officials and the governor have expressed condolences and called for support for those affected.

Lightning strike kills one, hurts others in New Jersey

Witnesses told us that this bolt of lightning came out of nowhere and that there was no sign of danger in the sky. There was no thunder. There was no rain. Officials have identified the man who died as 61 year old Robert Montgomery and say 14 others were injured, many of them children. Police responded at around 715 Wednesday night to Black Knight Bowbenders outdoor archery range in Jackson Township. They say the victims ranged in age from seven to 61 years old. At least one suffered burns while another was knocked unconscious. We spoke with Gene Grotsky, an instructor on site who says more than a dozen Scouts were at the range participating in a competition with their parents. When they heard an ear splitting sound, Grotsky says it was pandemonium as people were thrown to the ground and parents started screaming. He says he ran to grab a defibrillator, then tried performing CPR on Montgomery, a team member who was volunteering his time at the event, but unfortunately could not save him. Earth exploded, dirt went flying everywhere, and when I turned around there was at least seven people down on the ground flat. On behalf of the club we are. We are heartbroken over over the loss of a wonderful man on on our property. We lost a great man who was out here doing something very charitable on a volunteer basis to try to help little kids. Grotsky says moments before the lightning hit, he had walked to his car to grab a trophy for the contest and felt the hair on his arms stand up. This is at least the third incident of a person getting struck by lightning in the tri state area in the past month. A 28 year old Franklin Lakes man died from his injuries Monday after being struck days prior while golfing in Hamburg, according to his obituary. And in June, a 15 year old man and a 19 year old boy suffered second degree burns when he was struck in Central Park. Governor Murphy says he has been briefed on the strike and is asking for people to pray for everybody who was involved in this tragic incident.

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