Lightning Strike in ottawa

[bouche]

whoa. It was pretty intense last night eh?

from CFRA news

Man Struck by Lightning in Kanata

Wicked Weather Strikes the Capital

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 11:15 PM

A man is fighting for his life at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital after being struck by lightning during Wednesday night's severe weather.

Police tell us the man was walking to his car at the Kanata Centrum at around 9:45 pm.

The unidentified male was rushed to hospital by ambulance minutes later. Witnesses say the strike was so powerful that the thunder was almost instant and shook cars about 300 feet away.

Marc Grove was in his car and tells CFRA News that up until that point most of the strikes were well off in the distance.

Via Rail passengers had to wait a while during the storm. Police say a tree fell on the tracks near Merivale Road causing a delay. About 60 Ottawa bound passengers from Toronto were bussed to the Ottawa station.

A similar incident occurred along the O-Train tracks near Bayview. Tree branches became lodged in a train car. No one was hurt in either incident.

Bluesfest Organizers had to cancel concerts Wednesday night because of the violent weather.

The headliner, Michael Franti and his group Spearhead, will perform Thursday night.

Anyone with a day pass for Wednesday night show can attend the Thursday night performance.