Man hospitalized in critical condition after car is struck by lightning, explodes
A 58-year-old man was critically injured early Sunday when his vehicle was struck by lightning and exploded near a north Wichita truck stop.
Several people called 911 just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday after a vehicle behind the Love’s Truck Stop at N. Cleveland and N. New York caught fire, according to emergency scanner traffic. The callers reported that a man had been badly burned.
At the scene, first responders weren’t able to immediately determine what kind of vehicle was on fire because it had exploded, according to scanner traffic. Information from scanner traffic is based on preliminary details and is subject to change.
In the back lot of the Love’s, first responders found a 58-year-old man who they said was suffering from third-degree burns on about 80% of his body. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
First responders said via the scanner that lightning caused the vehicle to combust. The Wichita area was inundated with strong winds, heavy rain and thunder and lightning Saturday night into Sunday morning.
