March 29, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Lightning kills 20-year-old man in Venice Beach

AIR7 HD captured this photos of the response to the Venice Beach lightening strike. Twitter/@ABC7
AIR7 HD captured this photo of the response to the Venice Beach lightning strike. Twitter/@ABC7

Lightning strikes in Los Angeles County killed a 20-year-old man in Venice Beach today and injured nine other people, one of them critically, authorities said.

Eight people — seven adults and a 15-year-old said in broadcast reports to be a boy — were hospitalized after lightning struck Venice Beach around 2:20 p.m., said Katherine Main of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Another was struck earlier on Catalina Island, according to the sheriff’s department.

Lt. Larry Dietz of the county coroner’s office said a 20-year-old man was pronounced dead at a hospital after being taken there from Venice Beach.

He was unable to confirm that the deceased victim was a swimmer who, according to the fire department, was in grave condition when pulled from the water and taken to a hospital with CPR in progress.

“The guy wasn’t moving. He wasn’t responding at all,” beachgoer Jesus Zamudio told the Los Angeles Times.

Six people, including the teen, were hospitalized in fair condition and were expected to fully recover, fire officials said.

All victims were believed to be identified, Main said.

City fire paramedics set up a triage and treatment center on the crowded beach near Washington Boulevard.

Thirteen people were assessed, including those who were hospitalized, according to reports from the scene.

Angelica Roquemore, who was visiting the beach with her family from Bakersfield, told The Times the lightning startled fishermen and others on the Venice pier.

“My hair was standing up,” she said.

Roger Davis, who told the newspaper he was inside his home on Ocean Front Walk near Driftwood Street when the lightning struck, said, “The whole place shook.”

He ran outside and saw his neighbor, who is a doctor, administering CPR to a victim, he told The Times.

Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a statement saying he and his wife were praying for the victims.

“This tragedy reminds us that we can take nothing for granted or underestimate the power of nature,” he said.

Also hit by lightning from the same storm, but 90 minutes earlier, was a 57-year-old man struck on a golf course at Avalon, on Santa Catalina Island.

Minor flooding hit Avalon, and at least two brush fires broke out as a thunderstorm hit there at midday today.

“At 12:55 p.m., Doppler radar indicated a line of thunderstorms between the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina, producing locally-heavy rainfall,” the National Weather Service said. “This line of storms was drifting to the northwest at around 10 miles per hour.”

The small number of Los Angeles County firefighters and deputies on the island were scrambling with several simultaneous emergencies at and near Avalon, according to Sgt. Robert Berardi.

The Avalon lightning strike victim was preliminarily identified as a 57-year-old man, who was struck on a golf course. He was in stable condition a deputy at the sheriff’s Avalon Station said.

Two brushfires from lightning strikes were confirmed in the bone-dry back country, “and a couple more were popping up” as the storm moved northwest across the island, Berardi said. They were all put out quickly. Lightning also struck and damaged the exterior house and a car in Redondo Beach, where power outages were reported, according to media accounts.

The thunderstorm had earlier drenched the San Diego coast, and struck Santa Catalina Island at 12:45 p.m. today.

The National Weather Service issued a special marine weather advisory, warning of thunder, lightning, hail and possibly sudden choppy waves.

Thunderstorms are unusual along the Southern California coast because the ocean tends to cool the thermal dynamics required for such storms, NWS officials say.

The storm dissipated as it moved northwest up the coast.

in Crime, News
Related Posts

(Video) Series A Coffee Now Open in Beverly Hills at 8328 Wilshire Blvd

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Located in the space that formerly housed a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Try the Black Pearl Iced Coffee. @culvercitywlanews...

Los Angeles Fire Department Responds to Multi-Vehicle Collision Involving MTA Bus

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

Firefighters and Paramedics Assess 14 Individuals, Transport Several to Hospital Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters and paramedics responded to...

Los Angeles County Braces for Heavy Rain, Snow, and Possible Thunderstorms Over Weekend

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

National Weather Service Issues Alerts for Flooding and Possible Tornado  According to the latest reports from the National Weather Service...

Two Men Charged in Murder of Sidney Barrett Morris at L.A. Live Restaurant

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

DA Gascón Announces Charges; LAPD Chief Choi Expresses Condolences.  Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced murder charges Tuesday...

Cantonese Dim Sum Master Chef Tony Opens Hollywood Dim Sum at TCL Chinese Theatre

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Experience Exquisite Dim Sum Creations in the Heart of Hollywood 97 years after its founding, the TCL Chinese Theatre will...

Fleurs et Sel Bakery Opens Storefront in West Adams, Welcomes Customers Three Days a Week

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Indulge in Freshly Baked Cookies at the New West Adams Location Fleurs et Sel Bakery, known for its delectable cookies...

Easter Specials Guide: Brunch Spots, Desserts, and More in West Los Angeles

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Discover the Best Easter Eats and Treats in LA for Your Holiday Celebration Easter is almost here, so here are...

(Video) Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE at the Beyond Fest Screening...

Attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs Denounces Investigation as “Witch Hunt”

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Legal Representative Criticizes Probe Amid Federal Sex Trafficking Inquiry An attorney representing Sean “Diddy” Combs criticized the investigation into the...

Culver City Police Department to Conduct High Visibility Traffic Enforcement Operation

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Operation Targets Hazardous Traffic Violations on the West End The Culver City Police Department announced plans to conduct a high...

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement Ensuring Wage Increases  Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S....

Human Rights Campaign’s Los Angeles Dinner Celebrates LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Unity

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Notable Figures Gathered to Champion LGBTQ+ Rights and Combat Discrimination By Aneesha Pappy  The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s...

California Bars and Nightclubs Must Offer Drug Testing Devices Starting July 1

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

New Law Mandates License Holders to Provide Drug Testing Kits to Patrons Beginning July 1, establishments with Type 48 licenses...

Opinion: West Los Angeles Needs to Care about Veteran Homelessness

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

By Kelly Kravchuk  Veteran homelessness is a public health concern that impacts my West Los Angeles community. As a USC...

Culver City City Council Recap: Bruce Lee Alley, Historical Discrimination Study, Women’s History Month

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Council Deliberates on Racial Equity, Infrastructure Upgrades, and Fire Department Strategic Plan The Culver City Council convened its latest session...