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Motorcyclist Dies After Lightning Strike
thedenverchannel.com ^ | June 21, 2006 | thedenverchannel

Posted on 06/22/2006 4:28:40 PM PDT by RDTF

WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- A 46-year-old man on a motorcycle was struck by lightning and killed Wednesday evening while riding in rush hour traffic on the Boulder Turnpike.

Witnesses said they saw a flash of light just before the yellow motorcycle crashed into the center concrete divider.

Gary Missi, of Longmont, was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unknown if Missi was killed by the lightning strike or by the crash that followed, authorities said. An autopsy is pending.

However, Missi's bike was not badly damaged and he had injuries consistent with a lightning strike, Westminster police said. Missi was wearing a helmet.

"We get some crazy things, but 'Wow,'" said Westminster police spokesman Tim Read.

Missi's motorcycle came to rest about 150 yards from where lightning blasted an 18-by-8-inch crater, 4-inches deep that blew chunks of asphalt across the highway and slightly damaged other vehicles.

Authorities say it's incredible that no one else was hurt.

"Five o'clock, rush hour traffic on Highway 36 westbound -- that no one else was struck, hurt or anything is just amazing," Read said.

(Excerpt) Read more at thedenverchannel.com ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: artbell; lightning; motorycle

1 posted on 06/22/2006 4:28:43 PM PDT by RDTF
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Here is another one:

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=3387272&nav=23iiaFOV

Motorcyclist Struck and Killed by Lightning

State Police say a 43-year old motorcyclist from Virginia Beach was struck and killed by lightning Tuesday afternoon in Southampton County.

Officials say Richard Moran Jr.was stuck around 4:10pm while traveling westbound on Route 58 near Courtland.

After the strike, the bike ran off the roadway into the eastbound lane and eventually caught fire.

The motorcyclist was not struck by another vehicle. Officials say Moran, of the 1400 block of Eddystone Drive, died at the scene from the lightning strike, not the subsequent crash


2 posted on 06/22/2006 4:30:37 PM PDT by RDTF ("We love death. The US loves life. That is the big difference between us two.” Osama Bin laden)
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To: RDTF

we must demand all Motorcyclists to install proper grounding so this never happens again! If it saves ONE life then it is what we must do!


3 posted on 06/22/2006 4:33:30 PM PDT by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric cartman voice* “I love you guys”)
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To: RDTF

They should start wearing chain-mail suits, maybe the faraday effect will protect them.


4 posted on 06/22/2006 4:34:52 PM PDT by Figment
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To: RDTF

Darn good shot.


5 posted on 06/22/2006 4:36:41 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (There are only a few absolute truths in life, the rest are just opinion.)
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To: Steve Van Doorn

out the window goes the old tale of being on rubber tires makes you safe!
I remember growing up my mom would make us put on our sneakers in the house during a bad thunderstorm.


6 posted on 06/22/2006 4:37:32 PM PDT by RDTF ("We love death. The US loves life. That is the big difference between us two.” Osama Bin laden)
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To: RDTF

Damn!

Shocking!

Semper Fi


7 posted on 06/22/2006 4:40:29 PM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: river rat

you're bad :)


8 posted on 06/22/2006 4:41:52 PM PDT by RDTF ("We love death. The US loves life. That is the big difference between us two.” Osama Bin laden)
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To: RDTF
I'm betting he died during the strike!

Motorcyclist Dies After Lightning Strike?

9 posted on 06/22/2006 4:44:35 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy (Carpe Sharpei!)
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To: RDTF; martin_fierro
Those non-standard helmets are not always a good idea...


10 posted on 06/22/2006 5:21:10 PM PDT by mikrofon ("They call me Rod.")
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To: RDTF
I dont understand. If he was grounded by the tires, how did he die?
11 posted on 06/22/2006 5:24:25 PM PDT by Vision ("America's best days lie ahead. You ain't seen nothing yet"- Reagan)
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To: Figment

Nope. The magnetic field of lightning passing through copper tubing frequently compresses the tubes into solid rods [like they did it with a wire cage at Livermore labs]. Chain mail is no different, and even worse since flexible. Really rigid plate armor could do it.


12 posted on 06/22/2006 5:30:04 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: Vision

I guess it's an old wives tale?


13 posted on 06/22/2006 5:36:34 PM PDT by RDTF ("We love death. The US loves life. That is the big difference between us two.” Osama Bin laden)
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To: RDTF

I was riding a 75 Honda CB400F from Lake City to St. Augustine, Florida, when lightning hit a pine tree next to the road. I didn't feel a shock, but had bruises from flying chunks of wood. I was so startled that I almost lost control. It was the loudest sound I've ever heard.


14 posted on 06/22/2006 6:34:42 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (LET ME DIE ON MY FEET, IN MY SWAMP)
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To: river rat; RDTF

There are many things that could be wrapped into this event and posted.

One, the tires? I guess that "is out the window."

The other is "When it's your time..."

Some days the elevator and some days the shaft.


15 posted on 06/22/2006 7:22:32 PM PDT by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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To: RDTF
Just saw an unsolved mysteries episode where a guy got struck by lightning while on a motorcycle. He survived, due to a mysterious lady in a black dress that came and prayed Psalm 23 over him, and then walked away.

Before she came, he had no pulse. They were going to give up on him. Some of the paramedics saw her and some didn't.

It sounded pretty odd. The guy recovered, but he spent about 2 months in the hospital.

16 posted on 06/22/2006 8:11:19 PM PDT by Peace Is Coming
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To: RDTF
Bear causes accident that kills motorcyclist (Connecticut)
17 posted on 06/22/2006 8:13:34 PM PDT by nutmeg ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - Hillary Clinton 6/28/04)
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To: PeteB570

hey I'm with ya. I saw this report on tv and wanted to post it because it seemed so bizarre. I did a google search for a link and found it plus a few others. Who knew?


18 posted on 06/22/2006 8:18:34 PM PDT by RDTF ("We love death. The US loves life. That is the big difference between us two.” Osama Bin laden)
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