Two Wisconsin residents have died following a lightning strike near the White House on Thursday night, police confirmed to ABC News Friday.
Police said 76-year-old James Mueller and 75-year-old Donna Mueller, both from Janesville, Wisconsin, died after being injured in the strike in Lafayette Park in front of the White House.
Thursday night, D.C. Fire and EMS said it had responded and was treating four patients that were found in “the vicinity of a tree.”
It said the two men and two women were transported to area hospitals with “life-threatening injuries.”
Officials said it’s still unclear what the adults were doing prior to the lightning strike, if they knew each other and why they were in the park.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed sadness following word the two Wisconsin residents had died.
“We are saddened by the tragic loss of life after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives,” she said in a brief statement.
Apparent lightning strike Lafayette Park NW. #DCsBravest on scene in the process of treating and transporting 4 patients, all in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/1jyCh44Q2n
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) August 4, 2022
Uniformed U.S. Park Police officers and members of the Secret Service were also on the scene and immediately rendered aid to the victims, an EMS official said during a news conference.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser was expected to speak more about the incident at a news conference later Friday morning.
To bad it wasn’t Ole, Slo’ Commie Puppet Joe and his/it’s braindead, slut VP “Harrass”
The wrong target, the lightning strike was actually after ol’ Jughead Joe for the damage he has already done to American, and for what he is going to be doing in the future !!
Nothing like HATERS.
The old timers said “if you cannot say anything good about a person or issue, keep quiet.”