Lightning Strike Injures 20 at Lake Murray Park

A lightning strike at Lake Murray Public Park in Lexington County, South Carolina, on Tuesday afternoon injured 20 people, including both adults and children, near Dominion Beach Park at Dreher Dam. Emergency responders treated all victims at the scene, with 12 to 18 individuals—many of them children—transported to local hospitals for evaluation. All injuries were reported as non-life-threatening and all patients are expected to recover. The incident prompted a rapid and coordinated response from multiple local agencies, who credited their cooperation for the efficient care and swift transport of victims. The park is expected to reopen after safety assessments are completed. This incident follows a recent lightning strike in Manhattan that hospitalized a 15-year-old, highlighting the ongoing dangers of summer thunderstorms.