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Man in Toledo struck by lightning

Saturday, May 29, 2004 12:11 AM PDT

By Amy M. E. Fischer

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A construction worker from Graham, Wash., who was struck by lightning while shingling the rooftop of a Toledo home is in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Sergio Torres, who is about 30, was directly hit by a lone lightning bolt Thursday afternoon around 3 p.m. after a drizzle suddenly turned to a downpour, the homeowner said. Torres and three other crew members had been lining up to climb a ladder off the roof of Jim Stenhouse's new house on Homer Lane when the bolt struck without warning, Stenhouse said Friday.

"The guys were wearing rain gear, and this black cloud came over and just started dumping," Stenhouse said.

Torres collapsed. His Delson Construction Company co-workers tried to revive him with CPR but could not find a pulse, said Stenhouse, who heard but did not see the lightning strike. Rescue workers who arrived within minutes were able to restore Torres' pulse before transporting him to the hospital, said Stenhouse, calling the incident a "freak accident."

"How many people have been hit by lightning in Toledo lately?" said Stenhouse, who is retired and currently lives in Napavine. The lone lightning bolt that hit Torres and its accompanying clap of thunder was the only time all afternoon anyone present saw lightning or heard thunder, he said.

"It was very unsettling, and I've still not settled down from it," Stenhouse said. "When people read this unfortunate thing that happened to this young man, they should pray for his recovery. ... He has a family."

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free spirit wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:19 AM:

" If they were in bad condition , it would seam that the neighbor who saw them in the woods would have immediately rescued them, and asked questions later. Obviously they were not in bad condition, only crates(not a crime) or carriers. Maybe he did take his animals with him on a trip. I have taken mine before,and know many people who take thiers along(even in RVs. Sounds like extreme tree huggers to me. Or maybe the PETA people who think a dog should never be crated.I guess it is more humane to go to dog shows and let other peoples dogs out in protest to them bieng in thier crates. I guess if this results in them getting hit by a car, lost, or running at large , this is acceptable. Most vet's require that an animal is crated in the waiting area. I hear no mention of whether or not they had food, or water. I think the humane society also must have someting better to do than chase after a guy and 18 dogs that are not in unsavory condition, even by the accounts of the neighbor who saw them in the woods. If they were in bad condition shame on that neighbor for leaving them there. "

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