Motorcyclist Killed by Lightning

Sad story in Florida ...

A 45-year old man riding a Harley on the I-95 interstate was killed by a bolt of lightning on Sunday afternoon. It hit him in the helmet and he fell off the bike.

I was riding tonight and saw lightning 10 to 20 miles away and made a beeline for home. Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S. I've seen it flash in clear blue skies.

I've never had an accident. I made a vow with my first bike that I would reach the last ride of my life without going down once. So far, so good. But man, you never know.

Here's the story ... https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/10/us/motorcyclist-killed-lightning-florida-trnd/index.html

Very sad indeed

Would have thought that was practically impossible... The bike wouldn't have made a decent earth path, being on rubber tyres, the rider must have been very unlucky. Wrong place, wrong tiime.

That's sad but not the first time it happened . Same thing in 2006 near Denver CO. rider hit traveling at highway speed. 12x8 " x deep 6 " hole in the road.

"Would have thought that was practically impossible... The bike wouldn't have made a decent earth path, being on rubber tyres"

Agreed. The possibility never entered my mind. The article showed a picture of the rider's helmet. It didn't say if he had a comm system in the helmet (the same logic that says, "Don't talk on your cell phone in a lightning storm").

I rarely wear a helmet in the summer in Florida. Too hot and humid. I usually have my Aftershokz bone conduction headphones on, but I never ride if lightning is within striking distance. Floridians know that you don't mess around with lightning.

When I lived in upstate New York, it was unsettling to ride in the countryside at night, because you never knew when a deer might run in your path.

"That's sad but not the first time it happened . Same thing in 2006 near Denver CO. rider hit traveling at highway speed. 12x8 " x deep 6 " hole in the road."

I read that 10 motorcyclists were hit by lightning last year, although "most were not on their bikes at the time." Couldn't find exact numbers.

Sorry to hear of this rider loss.
The fact he was on a rubber tired bike doesn't mean squat to a lightning strike, even an auto or truck gives some protection only because of the metal surrounding you and providing a more dispersing path for the current. Being a wet rider will only give the strike a better grounding route and you are it. Hear the thunder get under, any building.

From the tweets regarding this article: https://www.coloradomotorcycleexpo.com/motorcycle-tips-handle-lightning-storm/

Sadly I've just read there were two motorcyclists from Teesside travelling in opposite directions were killed in a head on collision on a B road here in North Yorkshire yesterday.

Terrible news & sad for their families

bikehiker wrote:

From the tweets regarding this article:  https://www.coloradomotorcycleexpo.com/motorcycle-tips-handle-lightning-storm/

Hadn't seen this one but they are spot on.

oldwingguy wrote:

Sorry to hear of this rider loss.
The fact he was on a rubber tired bike doesn't mean squat to a lightning strike, even an auto or truck gives some protection only because of the metal surrounding you and providing a more dispersing path for the current. Being a wet rider will only give the strike a better grounding route and you are it. Hear the thunder get under, any building.

You are in a "Faraday Cage" in a vehicle, even if you have your hand hanging out of the door you should be ok.

What I was trying to say was that lightning, like any other form of electricity tries to find the easiest point to short. If the current does in fact move up from the ground to the cloud, then this rider was just plain unlucky that he was the highest point around at the time.
I would still have thought the tyres would have given a bit of protection though.

I've been at sea in an RNLI rib on a shout once and a bolt of lightning struck the sea close to us, that's an experience that makes you realise just how fragile life really is.

Water is a good conductor of the electric and yes it takes the path of least resistance but like the EF2 tornado that just missed our place last week I don't want to be in it's path. The up strike is interesting stuff, leading to to understanding of the " sprites " seen by pilots.