Middle School Football Players Injured In Lightning Strike At Practice

Five students and one coach were injured in a lightning strike at Picacho Middle School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. One of the students, aged between 11 and 14 years old, was critically injured and rushed to the hospital.

Two of the remaining four students and the coach were also taken to the hospital by ambulance, but their injuries are not believed to be as serious. One other boy was taken to the hospital privately and another refused medical attention.

[Las Cruces Public Schools spokeswoman Jo] Glavan said the incident occurred as players and coaches headed indoors after calling practice off when it started to drizzle. She said the day had been overcast, and that coaches did not see any lightning or rain as they started practice.

As the team was headed inside, lightning struck a nearby tree and spread to some of the players and a coach.

Glavan said the critically injured boy was taken El Paso Hospital Trauma Center and has been stabilized.

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h/t Leonard

6 injured by lightning strike at Las Cruces middle school football practice, 1 critically [KOB4]

Lightning strike injures 5 student athletes, 1 coach in Las Cruces; 1 child severely injured [KVIA]