On Friday, August 14, 2015, Eugene Villines of Greeley, Colorado was heading home from work as a Colorado Army National Guard member.
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Katie, who will celebrate the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary this November, said she was “beside myself” when a man called to tell her only that her husband was in a motorcycle accident and he was “still breathing”.
Although a storm hadn’t truly started yet, Villines was struck by lightning while riding in the fast lane.
Despite riding during rush hour traffic, no other vehicles struck Villines after his fall.
PHOTO:According to eyewitnesses, Eugene was thrown off his bike when he was struck by lightning.
“He just said I stiffened up and veered off the road and crashed”, Villines said, “The last thing I remember was going under the overpass at 136th Avenue”. Several drivers, including a nurse, pulled over to help.
Wiktor says it’s rare for lightning to strike humans and even more unusual for a motorcyclist to be hit.
“I’m just thankful”, Villines said.
Dr. Arek Wiktor with University of Colorado’s Burn Center says Villines’ injuries could have been a lot worse.
As for Eugene Villines’ riding future, it’s too soon to tell. The 31-year-old suffered a partially punctured lung in addition to bruised ribs and puncture wounds on his hand after the accident.
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As of Monday evening, Villines was still at University Hospital.
