One of the three people killed by a lightning strike last week next to the White House was a 29-year-old Los Angeles bank executive.
Around 7 o’clock in the evening, just across Pennsylvania Avenue from the fence enclosing the White House lawn, a bolt of lightning struck a tree in Lafayette Park, killing Brooks Lambertson, a vice president at City National Bank.
At the time of his passing, Lambertson, a member of his employer’s relationships team, was in Washington, DC.
The bolt also claimed the lives of James and Donna Mueller, a 76-year-old and 75-year-old couple who were in the capital for their 56th wedding anniversary.
During a July storm, they took cover under a tree, and when lightning struck, it was captured on camera.
The attack also gravely injured a fourth individual, a female. Her state is still unknown.
According to a statement from City National Bank, Lambertson has overseen the bank’s sponsorships for the past three years. The Los Angeles Clippers basketball franchise hired him in the past to handle marketing.
According to the bank, Brooks was “an incredible young man who will be remembered for his generosity, kindness, and unwavering positivity.”
His untimely passing is devastating for everyone who knew him, and his family, friends, and coworkers appreciate the many well wishes that have come from across the nation.
Lambertson graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo after attending high school in Folsom, Northern California.
The Muellers, who had been together since high school, travelled to Washington from Janesville, Wisconsin, to commemorate their anniversary.
They had a full itinerary because they were high school sweethearts, according to their niece Michelle McNett, who spoke to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Today, they were meant to be at Mount Vernon.
Jim was mostly retired but still owned and operated a drywall business. Donna has been a teacher for many years.
Jim would give you the shirt from his back, according to McNett, who added that both would sacrifice anything for family or friends.
According to Vito Maggiolo, a DC Fire and EMS official, Secret Service officers and US Park Police immediately responded to the strike and helped the wounded.
The injured were given CPR before being transported to a neighbouring hospital.
When the storm blew through shortly before 7 o’clock, according to Maggiolo, it was likely that the four people involved in the incident tried to find cover behind the neighbouring tree.
Trees are not the best place to seek cover during thunderstorms, according to the Fire and EMS spokeswoman.
Trees are not secure locations, Maggiolo declared. Anyone who seeks refuge under a tree should be aware that this is a perilous location.
According to Chris Vagasky, an analyst with a national lightning network, six’surges of electricity’ struck the same spot near the White House at 6:49 p.m. within a fraction of a second of one another.