WAUKESHA — A truck driver in his 40s died after police believe he was struck by lightning outside a Kwik Trip in Pewaukee Wednesday night.
The incident happened at the Kwik Trip on Golf Road near Interstate 94, which is located next to the Department of Motor Vehicles and down the street from Waukesha County Technical College.
Waukesha Police said the man was walking in the parking lot, heading to the store, when the severe weather turned deadly.
"There is a male on the ground. Unknown if he was breathing. Caller says he was possibly struck by lightning," police dispatch said.
Watch: One man died after being struck by lightning in Waukesha on Wednesday night
Witnesses attempted CPR on the man. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The National Weather Service confirmed there was a lightning strike at the Kwik Trip.
The severe weather on Wednesday brought tornado warnings, flash flooding, and lightning to the area. Becky Cummens was leaving work in Waukesha around 7:45 p.m. when the storm hit.
"I was out in it driving home, I had my windshield wipers on rapid," Cummens said.
Stephen Lester, a cross-country semi-truck driver, said he heads to places like the Kwik Trip to stay safe during the worst of the weather.
"Really windy, a lot of lightning, a lot of heavy rain," Lester said.
"It really brings it home for you. You — I ignore so many of the warnings. Get here, get there. It will never happen; lightning strikes one in a million times. I guess you have to heed the warnings,” said Cummens.
Kwik Trip told TMJ4 in a phone call that the situation is tragic and they are heartbroken for the family.
The last lightning death in Wisconsin occurred in Kewaskum in September when a Department of Natural Resources employee was working outside. There have been 3 deadly lightning strikes in Wisconsin since 2016.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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