A motorcyclist died Sunday afternoon after he was struck by lightning while riding on I-95 in Volusia County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said Benjamin Austin Lee, 45, of North Carolina, was struck by lightning just before 3 p.m. while riding on I-95 south near mile marker 270. Lee then veered off the road and was ejected from the motorcycle, FHP said.
FHP officials said lightning struck Lee's helmet, shattering it.
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Troopers said an off-duty Virginia State trooper witnessed the incident.
The crash remains under investigation.
According to John Jensenius with the National Lightning Safety Council, there have been 10 lightning fatalities related to motorcycles since 2006. In several of those cases, he said the riders were not on the bikes when they were struck.
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This is what’s left of a 45 year old man’s helmet after he was struck by lightning, while riding his motorcycle southbound, on I-95 in Volusia County this afternoon. Unfortunately he did not survive the crash. pic.twitter.com/uFklUPY8r1
— FHP Orlando (@FHPOrlando) June 9, 2019
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