Lightning strike kills 1, injures 14 at archery range, New Jersey police say
One person is dead and 14 others are injured after police say they were struck by lightning at an archery range in New Jersey.
Shortly after 7 p.m. July 16, police were called to the Black Knight Bow Benders Archery Range in Jackson Township for reports of multiple people being struck by lightning, according to a Facebook post by the Jackson Police Department.
Police were told one of the victims was receiving CPR.
When officers arrived, several people were being checked by medical personnel and one man was receiving CPR, police said. One victim lost unconsciousness but then regained it.
Fourteen people were injured, some burned and some complaining of pain and not feeling well, police said. Robert Montgomery, 61, died from his injuries.
“We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of Robert Montgomery from our #archery family and stand with our community in this time of grief,” USA Archery said in a Facebook post.
The people struck ranged in age from 7 to 61 years old, officers said. They were taken to a hospital to be treated, and one person was taken to a burn center with severe burns, according to police.
“There were no storms at that time. No rain or thunderstorm. Just one bolt of lightning. An accident that I hope we never see again,” Garden State Archers said in a Facebook post.
Jackson Township is about a 60-mile drive south of Newark.
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Lightning strike kills 1, injures 14 at archery range, New Jersey police say."
