FORT DRUM — Five soldiers reportedly were struck by lightning Tuesday night on a Fort Drum range east of Natural Bridge.

Following the 9:13 p.m. report of 10 hurt, ambulances from Natural Bridge, Carthage and Black River were dispatched to back up Fort Drum ambulance personnel. They were called off the detail at 9:37 p.m., however.

Guilfoyle Ambulance responded to the scene, and was involved in patient transport.

While initial reports indicated up to 10 victims, a subsequent report indicated there were five patients, with at least one being taken to Carthage Area Hospital and another to Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown.

Maj. Joshua T. Jacques, deputy public affairs officer for the 10th Mountain Division, was unable to comment about the severity of the situation and was unable to provide details about what units were in the area, whether they were National Guard or 10th Mountain Division personnel, or why they were there. Another spokesperson said the victims were not members of the 10th Division.

The site of the lightning strike was on Range 23, near Weaver Road and Russell Turnpike.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer