Kalispell Lightning Strike Sends Three to the Hospital

Kalispell School District leaders are expected to do a further investigation into a lightning strike that injured 3-people during a soccer practice at Glacier High School Monday evening.

The strike, which hit just before 6 pm, sent two players and a coach to the hospital. The second player was in the ICU at last word.

It's the second time this summer that a lightning strike has caused a close call in Western Montana.

RELATED: No Injuries When Lighting Strike Destroys Montana House

Get our free mobile app

What happened in the Glacier High School lightning strike

Glacier High School Principal Brad Holloway says the strike just before 6 pm injured two players, and a coach, with school staff, EMS, and Kalispell staff rendering aid, and getting the trio to the hospital. One of the players and the coach were being kept last night at Logan Health for observation, while the second player remained in intensive care.

"We are in contact with the families of all involved and will provide updates accordingly.    We are thankful for the first responder professionals for their immediate response and ask you to keep all those involved in your thoughts and prayers."- Brad Holloway, Glacier High Principal

Schools have lightning policies

As with most schools, Glacier follows the standards of the National Federation of High School Associations, which advises teams to suspend activities when "thunder of lightning is seen", or when the "leading edge" is close enough for a lightning strike, to take shelter indoors for "at least 30-minutes".

Then, the advice is to wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning is "witnessed" before resuming play.

The National Weather Service has specific guidelines for lightning safety in all scenarios, not just sports. NWS notes that each year thunderstorms "produce an estimated 20-to-25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes", and any of those are a "potential killer."