A sudden lightning strike at an archery range Wednesday evening left one man dead and sent more than a dozen others to hospitals, authorities said.
The storm rolled in fast over the wooded area off Jackson Township. Around 7 p.m., first responders arrived to find multiple people down across the range. A 61-year-old man was unresponsive and receiving CPR. Others, some as young as 7, suffered burns, cuts and other injuries.
More than 10 emergency units responded to what officials called a mass casualty event. One person was flown to a trauma center in critical condition. Others were treated for minor injuries and distress.
Police have not said if the group had been warned about the incoming storm or whether they tried to take shelter before the strike hit.
Gov. Phil Murphy released a statement late Wednesday acknowledging the fatality and urging support for the victims.
The National Lightning Safety Council said this marks the 12th lightning death in the U.S. so far this year. Most involved outdoor recreation, including fishing, which remains one of the leading causes of lightning-related fatalities.
This incident comes days after a fatal lightning strike at Ballyowen Golf Course in Sussex County.
Jackson Township is located in Ocean County, about 70 miles south of Manhattan. Authorities said more details would be released as the investigation continues.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.