Killer lightning in Lakeland

Lakeland - Jim Thompson sat on his back porch Saturday afternoon, watching a storm well to the south of him.

At least he thought it was far away, until he heard a loud boom.

“Just a hard clap of thunder. It shook the whole house. I knew it was close. I didn’t know how far away” said Thompson.

It wasn’t until he walked around to the front of his house, that he saw the effects.

“I come out and seen the people running out there. I knew something happened then.”

100 parishioners from the Iglesia Bautista Maranatha Baptist Church were across the street having a 4th of July picnic.

Witnesses said they saw a flash of light on the field and 30-year-old Benjamin Gonzalez collapsed.

Nearly 30 others were hurt too, complaining of tingling and dizziness.

“They determined they had multiple patients. They did have one patient in the field, and CPR was in progress, “explained Polk Fire Battalion Chief Randy Barfield.

6 ambulances were called out. 18 people, ranging in age from 7 to 43 were taken to area hospitals.

10 others were treated at the scene.

Thompson said there were a few clouds over head. But he said the sun was shining. And the lightning and thunder seemed so far away.

“I would have never dreamed it would have been over this way.” said Thompson.

Weather radar shows the storm was about 6 miles away.

Fox13 meteorologist Andy Johnson explained, lightning can travel.

“If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning. And also that, it does not have to be raining in order for lightning to strike.”

Johnson said another rule of thumb is to wait 20 minutes from the last roll of thunder before heading outside.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said it did not appear that Gonzalez suffered a direct strike.

But that he did have injuries consistent with a lightning strike.

Fox13 has been in contact with the church but were told they are not ready to speak about the tragedy at this time.