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[HackNDos]

This is from Lawrence, KS. Very tragic.

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-lightning-death-042509,0,5240629.story

LAWRENCE, KAN - While on a ride with Bikers Against Child Abuse, lightning struck and killed Troy Gentzler, 45, of Lawrence, Kan. Gentzler was killed instantly when friends say lightning hit him just before five Saturday, throwing him off his bike.

It happened on Highway 24 between Meridan and Lawrence, Kan. The group was finishing a 100-mile ride, commemorating National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. BACA members work with abused kids to help restore their trust in adults and the world around them.

When the accident happened, BACA members say they had just left the house of a child in the program they were visiting.

"There was a huge flash and a sound like kinda like when you've heard lightning hit a transformer, almost like a really loud shotgun blast," said Lucy, BACA member. "We were blinded momentarily because the light was so bright."

The strike happened right in front of Gentzler's fiance, who was riding her motorcycle behind him. One other biker was hurt and is recovering.

Members say it helps them knowing Gentzler or 'Cowboy' as they knew him, spent his last moments doing what he loved.

For more information about BACA, visit their website: http://www.bacausa.com.

[MIKEYTEE]

What are the odds?
When its your day, it's your day.
I feel for his friends and family.
Mike
 

[RioGlide]

The odds are pretty remote.  But I used to know a guy in Illinois who was struck while riding.

I'll spare the long story but he was coming back from Michigan & was hustling to outrun a storm behind him.

Last thing he remembered was passing a car at ~90 mph.

Apparently on this highway, the road was elevated over crossroads (limited access freeway).

He gets to the top of a rise going over a secondary road, and bang!  Lightning strike to the helmet.  He goes down, slides quite a ways.  Was wearing full leathers which helped a lot.

As luck would have it, the guy in the car he passed was a doctor driving along with his wife.  They come across the crash and stop.  The doctor literally revived the guy back to life on the spot.  Ambulance & all the rest of course afterward.

It's lucky to survive lightning.  It's lucky to survive a 90 mph crash (on 2 wheels or 4).  Sorry to hear about the fellow in Kansas.  As they say, I guess his number was up.  It really seems like a random event, odds way against it happening but it does anyway sometimes.

[Crusty]

damn, that sucks   

[JeffsHogPen]

The only thing that I can say.....He had some higher power looking over him.

[Ditch]

Sad to hear. It is not in our hands when it is our time. At least he was doing something he enjoyed.... as if that makes this tragic event any better! Prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.