Lightning Bolt Strikes Family Reunion in Pennsylvania

July 18, 2005
A lightning bolt struck a family reunion, critically injuring a 12-year-old boy and sending a dozen others to the hospital, police and family members said.

SUGARCREEK, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A lightning bolt struck a family reunion, critically injuring a 12-year-old boy and sending a dozen others to the hospital, police and family members said.

The bolt hit a tree near a home Saturday evening, causing as many as 30 people to feel a jolt, said Andy Coon, who attended the party at his grandmother's farm about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Pittsburgh.

''Everyone was in shock for what it seemed like a long time, but it was within seconds that we were running around helping people,'' Coon said. ''A lot of us were on our knees, praying.''

David Rogan, 12, was knocked unconscious, and a relative performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

Rogan was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition Sunday, suffering from brain swelling, said Larry Bell, one of the family members who organized the party.

''They say lightning is rare, but this is very rare for lightning to come down on so many people and not kill anybody,'' said Larry Bell, whose mother owned the farm. ''God was showing his strength.''

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