Key West Officer Recovering After Lightning Strike

Police say a lightning bolt struck an officer or the ground near him as he was riding his department-issued motorcycle.

Key West Police say a motorcycle officer is recovering after being injured in a lightning strike.

Police spokeswoman Alyson Crean said a bolt of lightning either struck Officer Deglys Chavarria or struck near him as he was riding his department-issued motorcycle Wednesday morning.

Crean tells The Key West Citizen that Chavarria was alert and conscious when he was taken to a hospital.

A woman selling copies of the newspaper says she saw a flash of light when the lightning struck. Lou Ann Carnell says Chavarria was able to steer his motorcycle into a nearby gas station and called for help himself.

Police Chief Donie Lee says last year one officer was struck by lightning and another reported that his vehicle had been struck, but neither was seriously injured.

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