The National Weather Service is reporting that two people found dead in a cemetery in Batavia, N.Y. on Wednesday were likely killed by a lightning strike.
John Jensenius, a lightning expert with the NWS, said the nationwide death toll from lighting strikes now stands at 25, one more than average for this time of year.
According to a police report, Batavia police were called to the Batavia Cemetery at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday after someone found two bodies. Batavia is a town southwest of Rochester, N.Y.
The police, working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, determined that the two people were struck by lightning during a storm that occurred early that morning.
Both people had injuries consistent with being struck by lightning and the Erie County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as a lightning strike.
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