Ft. Dix Lightning Strike Kills 1 Soldier, Injures 5
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FT. DIX, N.J. — Lightning from an early morning thunderstorm killed one soldier and injured five others Sunday at the Ft. Dix Army base in southern New Jersey, a base spokesman said.
The men were among 7,300 Army Reserve and National Guard troops taking part in weekend training. Lightning struck the soldiers’ tent, spokesman David Moore said.
Spc. Kenyon Hodges, 22, of Trenton was pronounced dead at a local hospital. In addition to the five men hurt by lightning, a sixth soldier was cut as he tried to help one of the victims. The injured soldiers were taken to area hospitals with burns and cuts.
Dr. Hani Mansour of Saint Barnabas Health Care System said the injuries he saw indicated the lightning traveled through the ground rather than directly hitting the men.
“They are extremely lucky. They are alive, and most probably they will do well,” Mansour said.
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