Good Lord! That woman is very much fortunate to be alive. That was probably a direct hit from the main lightning channel (most people dont take direct hits, rather they are hit by a leader off the main strike channel, and I dont know of anyone that has survived a direct hit).
I used to think I was somewhat, relatively, safe in my car. I guess I'll have to re-evaluate that assesment. If Im directly under the storm or near a tower of some sort, I will usually set up my camera and run a remote control cable to the car and either operate it manually or hook it up to the laptop and set a timer. In doing that I figured the worst would be I would loose my camera to a strike, I suppose that may not be the case.
I guess it just goes to show you the power of those things. All of the statistics concerning lightning strikes (power, heat, etc.) are largely estimates based on what information we can gather. That story just proves that.
I have for a long time been trying to get pictures or find pictures of lightning strikes that hit or have hit pavement. Ive held for a long time that lightning either just passed through or didnt hit pavement because of the lack of a conductive channel. Looks like that idea is shot.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
So much for "Your car is the safest place to be in a lightening storm. Actually, it probably is, but this seems to have broken the "glass shroud" around that rumor.
Last edited on Sun May 8th, 2005 10:52 pm by Mr. Versatile
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Wow that's wicked scary! I've never heard of anything like that happening before!
Smart call pulling over, I don't know that I'd have the presence of mind to do that... usually when your airbags pop its cause you've just Ceased movement, very abruptly. Must've been insane for the people seeing her car get struck as it happened!
around that rumor.
