Names of Tourists Who Died in DC Lightning Strike Released 

There is something so bittersweet about this couple going out of this world together. My prayers and heart go out to the family for loosing two loved ones at once.

I worked with Donna and her husband actually recently did drywall in my parents house. Amazing people that will be missed by many.

Oh no I was always told never to go under a tree during the lightning storm but I definitely understand the reasoning behind it. Hopefully the family can take some solace that they had each other in the end, but it's so tragic to think they had to lose both of them so suddenly

I honestly thought everyone knows not to take shelter under a tree during a storm. So sad they lost their lives this way. Thoughts and prayers for the families.

This is insane, the chances..and they went under a tree of all places..I feel so sorry for them and their family.

I remember when I was a 4-year-old, kids TV shows would always teach me not to stand underneath a tree during a lightning storm. It’s so sad to see that so many people don’t know this and find out the hard way. Tbh, every single news network should warn or report about cases like these if they don’t already.

It’s horrific to see the body of someone who got strike by lightning. RIP. My childhood friend was killed by lightning 30 years ago and I still get nightmares seeing his lifeless body.

This is so sad, I almost died on that exact same day too... I was hiking out in the mountains and then it started thunderstorming and raining really badly... atleast 8 lighting strikes came within 50 meters of me. I was terrified

This is so sad. My heart goes out to the victims' families, friends and loved ones.

as sad as this is, one will not have to bury the other, they went out together. my heart goes out to the family for their loss.😢

OMG! That’s absolutely horrible! My prayers go out to these families & speedy recovery for the injured.

That is heartbreaking they died like that 😢 but also wonderful they were together ❤ my thoughts and prayers go to their families and the families of the injured and I pray they recover

I worked at the White House for 4 years. You'd be surprised how often tourists would get caught up in weather at the fenceline. Its hard to find neaby parking, and you often have to walk a gazillion miles to get to the White House, so people get tempted to stay unless things get really bad, then theyre out there, and there isnt alot of shelter in the immediate area. My heart goes out to the family of the couple who died(and the others who were injured, or died since I posted this). Perhaps there will some comfort for the family in knowing that neither of them had to live their last years apart.

So heartbreaking! They look like the sweetest midwestern old couple. I’m sure their family is devastated and I pray for them.

rip- to all the lives that were lost. this is truly hard to watch. sending love to the families. 💞

from the pictures of them they seemed so sweet and pure 🥺 it’s so sad that they went on this way when they were clearly still so full of life. RIP to them 🕊🤍

My family was visiting DC for the day, and we heard this strike, we thought "wow, that was close" but nothing more, we had no idea what had happened, later in the night my family got stranded in the Lincoln Memorial because it started raining so much. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, and their friends and family, it's scary to think how close this was to me and how me or one of my family members could have been a victim too.

This is so sad, prayers for the families involved

This is heartbreaking.

this is heartbreaking,may their souls rip

Heartbreaking!! Never go underneath a tree when it’s lightning!!

The chances to be struck by lightening is crazy to fathom. R.I.P. to the couple I’m so sorry this happen to you both.

Rest in peace to the victims. My heart goes out to their family.

I sat in a lane next to the road shoulder, lightning struck a 100 year old, oak,split it down the middle and it crashed on the hood of my car. The explosion was so deafening we all lost our hearing for an hour and had ringing in our ears for hours. A prayer for their family right now.

My heart goes out to their family. Losing both at the same time is absolutely heart breaking.

That was a number one rule of what not to do when raining, do not ever find cover under a tree, i remember my parents said that when I was a kid

That’s so sad. May they Rest In Peace.

When I was in middle school, one of my teachers who also coached girls soccer told us a story on how one day during practice, he saw all the girls' hair sticking up from static. He told the girls to get off the field back inside and lightning struck a tree right next to where all the kids had been running in the soccer field. That was his lesson to all his classes on lightning safety.

Growing up I was always told NEVER hide under a tree during lightning or thunder storms, as an adult, I am always shocked that this isn’t more common knowledge.

They say sometimes lightning goes from the ground up, I’d like to think that this couple was taken to the heavens above in spectacular fashion.

So very sad. Praying for their families.

This is so sad. I'm going through loss myself, and the feeling of not having someone who you've known forever suddenly be gone is unbearable. These folks looked so happy, too. I also didnt realize that standing under a tree during a storm is dangerous; I thought it was just tall metal objects. I wish their family and friends peace and healing.

Update a third passed away from the same strike now. Prayers to all affected.

I'm so sorry.

RIP to the lovely couple. Inside edition is very educational, they always get experts to analyze situations... This is why I keep watching

One thing I learned from my early teenage years: It’s NEVER a good idea to seek shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. Really sad that this happened. Sending condolences to the families. ❤️🙏❤️🙏

I suffered 3 massive electrical shocks at the DC VA hospital, I am still disabled from that. I am only glad to be alive, I am being refused proper treatment even though it was caused by the government. I spent almost 4 years with no recollection of what happened to me. The first shock threw me off the medical chair, then I was shocked another 2 times. I thank GOD for my life!!!

THAT'S INSANE!

My Condolences 💔

This is completely heart breaking, they where probably underneath the tree to not get wet from the rain. My heart goes out to the families that got this unfortunate loss.❤❤❤❤❤❤

I feel bad for the two elderly people who lost their lives. We work hard all our lives. Then we finally retire to go sight see things we were to busy to do while raising children and working . Something like this happens. May their families hearts heal from this tragedy.

Prayers to these couple 🙏🏻

R.I.P. - My Condolences To Their Families and Friends 😞

That’s heartbreaking you never stand under a tree during a thunderstorm Because lighting loves to hit trees my thoughts and prayers to the family’s that lost there loved ones so sad 😭

I am so truly sorry that happened to them. May their souls rest in peace.

Condolences 😢

Heartbreaking💔

As a kid, I was taught never go to a tree during thunder and lightning.

Condolences to the family of the victims. Sometimes these storms come so quick and escaping is impossible.

Thats so sad..

Prayers for the couple and their families and friends

I was in DC last night and to think that one of those lightning strikes I heard was probably the one that ended their lives is saddening. I even saw an ambulance during the storm that was most likely those two others who were injured. Very sad 💔

I feel super bad for them they look so kind and humble

Rest In Peace ❤️Sending love and prayers to their families

Bless them...so tragic

My 2 daughters and I were in that same area about an hour before that. Prayers to the couple's family.

I was in a scary situation with a thunder storm once. I was running back from my friends house when it started raining and thundering out of nowhere. Had no idea there was gonna be a thunderstorm. The 2 mile run back was pretty scary as there was huge bolts of lighting scattering throughout the clouds, illuminating the sky white. Loud crashes of lighting hitting the ground and all. I was genuinely anxious of getting struck, so I picked up the pace. Always check the weather yall

My heart goes out for the both of them 🤧 i always get told to never hide under the trees when there's a storm. the possibility of it getting hit by a lightning is high.

So tragic but at least they went out together and honestly...what a way to go out.

That's one thing I remember hearing about being out in a thunderstorm; Never, NEVER, under any circumstances, stand under a big tree when there's dangerous lightning.

One of the first things my dad told me as a kid: NEVER hide under a tree if there's lightning.

Condolences to the family and friends. Truly sad.

Praying for them and there family

I was in a hotel 2 miles away from that and woke up from that bolt. Prayers to the family 🙏

I remember a Mom and her son at a beach in North Carolina were struck and killed by lightening when they took shelter under someone's nearby beach house deck. So heartbreaking and sad for the families of this beautiful couple. My heart goes out to them for their unexpected loss. 🌹😔

R.I.P 💕 Prayers out to their families!

This is so freaking sad. Rest In Peace.

Safety measures: 1. ALWAYS avoid being at the highest point in the area. 2.Don't stand by a window lightening can go through windows 3. Don't be near water or use water (showers, plumbing facility, etc.) 4. Stay away from tall trees, posts, light posts, towers, fences 5. Stay way from small covered shelters 6. Don't stand on or touch metal

Not even death took them apart. May they rest in peace.

They were an elderly couple who seemingly & hopefully had a lovely, full life. But killed by lightning is one hell of a way to exit this realm, considering the other alternatives. RIP

So sad💔

This is heartbreaking, truly tragic. That poor, sweet couple

Very sad for those people and I wish they had known you should never go under a tree during a thunderstorm . May they rest easy

Tragic but beautiful in a way. If it was my girls time I'd wanna go with her, neither of them ever had to feel the pain of losing the other, prayers for their family and I'm in no way saying this isn't heartbreaking just trying to see the one small bit of positivity in this. Rest in peace 🙏

Imagine living this long just to be killed by lightning out of all things

Hiding under a tree is literally the last place you go during a thunderstorm🤦

Glad they went together- what a way to go! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I hope everyone is OK wow

That is very sad. Well, at least they went together. Be tough to be left here without the other.

Rest in peace for those poor people killed by a lightning strike in the middle of the Thunderstorm and please, for the love of God, don't take cover under tall, thin things including trees during a stormy day. Thank you. 😢

Damn out of all places 🙏🏾 that’s crazy

Bless their family. May they rest in peace.

this is something you never expect to happen those poor souls :(

I feel so sorry for the elderly couple that died. My Deepest Heartfelt Condolences and Sympathies Go To Their Families and Friends. In regard to the CBS News Crew, they should've known better. Especially since that had electronic equipment that was operating in their immediate area. It's Common Sense that your NOT supposed to be under a tree during an electrical storm operating electronic equipment.

This is super sad, i hope they will be happy forever now...

Condolences to the bereaved family. RIP.

I feel bad for the family left behind, but that's the way I'd wanna go. Quickly together with my husband in the golden years of life, and we would be remembered for a long time because it was an unusual way in an unusual place. Neither of them have to live alone without the other.

I was almost struck by lightning a month ago and I gotta say it was not fun, felt sick from my stomach and my body felt weird for a few days, Rest in Peace 🕊️

Shocking.. 😮

How tragic, Rest In Peace.

One of the scariest moment of my life was caught in a thunder and lightning storm while camping/sleeping in a tent in the forest, near Mount Lassen. The body goes into a kind of shock that cannot be controlled...

When my aunt was little she was the only one of her school friends that survived a lightning strike because she was away from trees like my grandma always told her 😢

Such a beautiful couple, Rest In Peace.

I was in DC yesterday and the craziest storm came over. So much so the power went out at the hotel. The thunder and lighting and rain was the craziest I’ve seen.

I thought it was interesting that they didn’t talk about how close is “too close” considering they included the clip of the crew packing up because the storm was “too close”. With lightning, too close means within 3 miles of where you’re standing, because lightning can frequently strike from 3 miles away. Here’s how to tell when lightning is within 3 miles of you. Wait for a good flash of lightning, then start counting seconds “one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand,” etc. Sound travels very roughly one mile every 5 seconds. That means that if you count less than 15 seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, the lightning is “danger close” and you should go inside and stay out of showers, sinks, and bathtubs, and away from appliances and landline telephones, etc. Very few people follow that rule, but that’s how to avoid being struck by lightning. If you count 10 or less seconds between a flash and the clap of thunder accompanying the flash, you’re way inside the danger zone and you should go indoors immediately and wait out the storm. But try this and see how few people will respect your right to stay alive and safe. I know - I’ve had delivery jobs before in my life and good luck telling the boss you can’t go out and deliver right now because there’s a potentially deadly thunderstorm happening and you need to wait until it’s over. Also, good luck paying your bills if you’re a tipped delivery driver even if your boss does let you stop delivering until the storm passes. At least in the United States. We seem to worship death and getting innocent people killed over stupid, easily preventable things. The thing is, though, it is your life. How much you value it is up to you. Knowledge will help you make better choices, and this is (some of) the knowledge you need to avoid being struck by lightning.

That’s so tragic. Rest In Peace. My condolences to their families. ❤️🙏🏽

Thats just tragic 😞

So sad and unfortunate.

Being from Wisconsin we get alot of severe storms and tornados...sad loss of two Wisconsinites from our state. Thoughts to their families and friends.

Rest in peace to the two people who died and my condolences go out to the family and I hope for the other two for their recovery my prayers go out to you