Two people who were critically injured in a lightning strike outside the White House have died, police confirmed to CBS News on Friday. Two other people remained hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, of Janesville, Wis., died of their injuries after lightning struck Lafayette Park, located directly outside the campus of the White House, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
The other two people, a man and a woman, were in critical condition, the police department said. Their identities were not immediately released.
Lightning was reported at 6:52 p.m. The victims were near a statue of Andrew Jackson, Maggiolo said, adding that “it appeared they were in the vicinity of a tree.”
Uniformed Secret Service agents and U.S. Park Police officers who were in the area and witnessed the strike administered first aid to the victims, Maggiolo said.
“His agents, his officers, witnessed this lightning strike and immediately began rendering aid,” Maggiolo said.
It is unclear what the victims were doing at the time.
“We are saddened by the tragic loss of life following the lightning strike in Lafayette Park,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones and we pray for those who are still fighting for their lives.”
A CBS News camera that was filming on the North Lawn of the White House at the time of the lightning strike captured the powerful rumble of thunder.
“The thunder was so loud, @gabrielle_ake and I jumped in fear,” CBS News White House correspondent Nancy Cordes tweeted. “‘This is too close, we’re closing,’ advised photographer Ron Windham.”
Our camera was rolling on the North Lawn of the White House tonight when lightning struck near Lafayette Park, injuring four people. The thunder was so loud, @gabrielle_ake and I stood up in fear. “This is too close, we’re closing,” advised photographer Ron Windham. pic.twitter.com/oTtU9VeQBw
— Nancy Cordes (@nancycordes) August 5, 2022
