Sudden Lightning Strike at New Jersey Archery Range Kills One, Injures 14
A sudden lightning strike during a youth archery event in New Jersey killed a beloved 61-year-old instructor and injured at least 14 others.
A lightning strike at the Black Knight Bowbenders archery club in Jackson Township, New Jersey, killed a 61-year-old man and injured at least 14 others on Wednesday evening, July 16, 2025, in what authorities described as a mass casualty incident. The strike occurred just after 7 p.m. at the outdoor range on Perrineville Road during a youth archery event involving Jackson Scouts Troop 204, a Scouting America-affiliated group.
The victim, identified as Robert Montgomery, a long-time club member and volunteer instructor, died at the scene despite CPR efforts. The injured, ranging in age from 7 to 61, included eight juveniles from the scout troop. Injuries varied from burns to complaints of feeling unwell, with one juvenile airlifted to the Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. Another person briefly lost consciousness but regained it. All injured were transported to area hospitals, including Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, with no life-threatening injuries reported among survivors.
The incident occurred under a severe thunderstorm warning, though witnesses noted no rain at the time, suggesting a possible “bolt out of the blue” strike, which can hit up to 30 miles from a storm. Gene Grodzki, a club volunteer, described the scene to CNN, saying, “The earth exploded. Dirt went flying everywhere,” as the lightning struck a tree, spreading electricity across the ground. Grodzki performed CPR on Montgomery, calling him “a great man” who was helping children at the event.
Jackson Township Police, multiple EMS units, and fire departments from nearby municipalities responded, with Hatzolah of Central Jersey providing mutual aid. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy expressed condolences on X, urging prayers for those affected. The National Weather Service notes lightning kills about 20 people annually in the U.S., with this incident marking at least the 12th lightning-related death in 2025. The investigation into the strike’s circumstances, including weather conditions and safety measures, is ongoing.