September 21, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Possible Lightning Strike Sends Man to Hospital

In what may have been a lightning strike accident, local Shreveport firefighters and paramedics responded to 703 East Kennie Street this morning at 10:37 a.m. Willie Germany, 52, of Shreveport was unloading some equipment off the back of an eighteen-wheeler’s trailer when he felt a jolt, stepped back and the next thing he remembers was his supervisor asking him if he was ok.

Paramedics assessed Germany, who was complaining of pain to his hand that was in contact with the trailer at the time of possible strike. He was transported in good condition to Willis Knighton Medical Center - South, where he is currently being evaluated in the emergency room. Lightning was evident in the area all morning including the time when Germany was unloading.

In all probability, Germany nor the tractor-trailer suffer a direct strike but rather an indirect current from lightning that had hit the ground near-by and traveled through the soil and water to his location. ###