Ten inmates at David Wade Correctional Center in Homer suffered injuries after lightning strikes the field where they were playing flag football.
Department of Corrections spokesperson Ken Pastorick says a weather event was closing in, but the flag football game was not called off because there were no signs of imminent danger.
“It happened out of the blue, and there were no warning strikes before, and so, unfortunately, it happened immediately while these guys were playing and ten guys had to be rushed to the hospital.”
The strike hit just adjacent to where the inmates were playing.
Nine of the inmates have returned to the facility after spending time at a local hospital. Pastorick says they suffered symptoms common to those who survive lightning strikes.
“Those nine had suffered from disorientation headaches, muscle aches, and had some cuts and bruises so they had to get some stitches.”
Pastorick says the policy was followed, and if a strike had been detected then they would have moved the inmates off the field.
“We have a policy where if there is inclement weather that we move out of harm’s way immediately.”
