RAPID CITY, SD — Two South Dakota troopers narrowly escaped injury when lightning struck beside them during a manhunt south of Rapid City. The close call was captured on video and later shared by the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
The department said the search was happening on foot when the storm moved in. Neither trooper was hurt.
Video captures the moment lightning hits near patrol vehicles
In the footage, the two troopers are standing near their patrol vehicles and appear to be talking about what a person was wearing. A flash then erupts just next to where they are positioned.
State police described the moment in a social media post as a search on foot with the storm rolling in, followed by a strike right next to the troopers.
Troopers were not identified and no injuries were reported
The names of the troopers were not released. The Highway Patrol said both remained unharmed after the lightning strike.
Officials did not immediately provide more information about the manhunt as of Wednesday evening.
What the state patrol has said so far
The Highway Patrol shared the video on its Facebook page, but it did not explain who was being searched for or why. The post focused instead on the dramatic lightning strike and the fact that the troopers were safe.
The agency’s update added little beyond confirming the near miss and the ongoing lack of public details about the search.
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