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Lawrence man killed by lightning in Jefferson County

By Staff | Apr 26, 2009

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11:30 p.m. A flash flood warning has been issued for southern Leavenworth County. Douglas County remains under a severe thunderstorm watch.

11:05 p.m. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department has identified the Lawrence motorcyclist who died as 45-year-old Troy Gentzler. Gentzler was riding his motorcycle through Jefferson County when he was struck by lightning Saturday night.

10:13 p.m. Douglas County has been placed under a severe thunderstorm watch until 5 a.m. Sunday. The tornado watch for the county has expired.

9:56 p.m. We need to clarify a comment from earlier. Though KMBC was showing video that they said was from Douglas County, it was actually from east of Lawrence. When Bob Newton said there were NO touchdowns reported in Douglas County, he was correct.

9:37 p.m. A 45-year-old Lawrence man taking part in the Bikers Against Child Abuse was killed Saturday night when he was struck by lightning in Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said the group was visiting kids they’ve helped previously when he was struck at mile marker 377 on Highway 24, eastbound. A second man, 35-year-old Michael Robinson, was riding with the victim and suffered minor injuries from the jolt.

The man’s name was not being releases Saturday night.

9:31 p.m. Only 12 people still without power in Douglas County according to Westar Energy.

9:24 p.m. We’re hearing reports of standing water on the road in Grant Township. As a reminder, do not drive through standing water. Even just a few inches can sweep your car away.

9:14 p.m. We just added a video from a reader of tornadic rotation over his house in Lawrence. Check the YouTube video on the left side of the page.

9 p.m. The tornado warning in Leavenworth County has expired. A flash flood and severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for the area.

8:50 p.m. 6News/49News meteorologist Alex Harrington is just south of Tonganoxie and reports seeing a supercell with an appendage hanging beneath it to his north. He can’t see any rotation or anything on the ground. The tornado warning is still in effect in Leavenworth County. If you are in Tonganoxie, Basehor or Lansing, seek shelter immediately.

8:42 p.m. We’re down to 15 homes without power in Douglas County, according to Westar Energy. Also, the severe thunderstorm warning in Douglas and Jefferson counties is expected to expire at 8:45 p.m.

8:37 p.m. A tornado warning has been issued for Leavenworth County after doppler radar indicated a possible tornado near Tonganoxie, moving northeast.

8:29 p.m. Only 63 homes in Douglas County are still without power, according to Westar Energy.

8:20 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for extreme north and north-central Douglas County as well as south, southeastern Jefferson County until 8:45 p.m.

8:17 p.m.Damage was extensive along Douglass Road in southern Leavenworth County.

Several witnesses reported a relatively small funnel moved through the area about 7 p.m. Several homes were damaged, including some that had their roofs lifted off, but no homes were totally destroyed.

Barns in the area as well as mobile homes, however, were reported destroyed.

Power was out in the area as well.

Fire crews were going door to door checking with victims. There haven’t been any reports yet of deaths or serious injuries.

— Christine Metz

8:11 p.m. We’re getting several reports of water across roads. Highway 40, between E700 and E800, there is water standing and running over the road, but the road remains open. E800 is about 1 mile east of the SLT.

In the town of Clinton, the creeks that run through are high, so continued rain could lead to road closures.

7:56 p.m. We’re hearing that the hail has moved through Lawrence. Things seemed to have calmed down for now. We’re going to take a break from the minute-by-minute updates.

7:49 p.m. Several witnesses are reporting hail in southwest Lawrence, moving toward the city.

7:43 p.m. We’re now up to 202 people without power in Douglas County.

7:35 p.m. Despite KMBC showing video of a tornado on or near the ground in Douglas County, Bob Newton from Douglas County Emergency Management says there have been NO reports of a tornado touching down in Douglas County. Emergency management also reports that the severe weather still moving toward Lawrence has been weakening as it moves through Douglas County.

7:30 p.m. KMBC is reporting that Tonganoxie and Basehor seem to have been spared damage. Tornado damage seems to be mostly south of those communities and along the Kansas Turnpike.

7:24 p.m. An update on that severe thunderstorm: half-dollar sized hail four miles northeast of Overbrook. The storm is heading northeast at 25 miles per hour. It’s expected to hit Clinton Lake by 7:40 p.m.

7:18 p.m. Christine Metz near the intersection of Leavenworth County Road 25 and the Kansas Turnpike reports several houses and barns with heavy damage.

7:10 p.m. Reporter Christine Metz is on the scene in southern Leavenworth County. She’s seeing damage across a wide swath. We’ll have photos and videos soon.

7:02 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for western Douglas County until 7:45 p.m. Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm located 4 miles west of Overbrook, expected to be near Clinton shortly.

7 p.m. TORNADO WARNING EXTENDED INTO WYANDOTTE COUNTY. IT NOW COVERS LINWOOD, TONGANOXIE, BONNER SPRINGS AND EDWARDSVILL. A TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND BUT THAT CANNOT CURRENTLY BE CONFIRMED. IF YOU’RE IN THAT AREA, SEEK SHELTER NOW.

6:58 p.m. Westar Energy is now reporting 195 homes in Douglas County without power.

6:54 p.m. Westar Energy is now reporting 159 homes in Douglas County without power.

6:52 p.m. A tornado remains near the Kansas Turnpike just west of the Eastern Terminal toll plaza. A debris cloud can be seen.

6:47 p.m. A tornado remains on or near the ground at 174th Street and K32. Lots of debris flying around.

6:42 p.m.There are now 28 homes without power in Douglas County. A tornado remains on the ground in Leavenworth County moving east, northeast.

6:40 p.m. Lawrence remains under a tornado watch and flood advisory. Areas north and east of Lawrence are now in the line of storms.

6:38 p.m. LIVE STREAMING VIDEO FROM THE 6Weather STORM TRACKER SHOWS A TORNADO ON THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE KANSAS TURNPIKE. WARNING EXTENDED TO LEAVENWORTH COUNTY. SEEK SHELTER IN LEAVENWORTH COUNTY NOW.

6:29 p.m. Westar Energy is reporting 18 houses without power and that number keeps increasing.

6:22 p.m. Douglas County officials are repositioning spotters because of another strong storm cell moving across the Douglas County line from Shawnee County. Mostly heavy rain associated with that cell.

6:19 p.m. An urban and small stream flash flood advisory is in effect 7:15 p.m. Also, spotters are reporting tornado touchdowns north of Lawrence.

6:12 p.m. TORNADO WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6:45 P.M. Emergency dispatchers report that a house in Lawrence has been struck by lightning.

6:05 p.m. 6News Chief Meteorologist says hail of 1″ or greater has been reported. Several witnesses report “heavy” rotation in the area northwest of the SLT and Iowa Street.

6:02 p.m. Reporter Jesse Fray near the intersection of Clinton Parkway and the South Lawrence Trafficway reports rotation in the area. 6News Meteorologist Matt Elwell said the 6News Towercam shows some lowering, but there are no reports of any tornadoes on the ground.

5:59 p.m. Emergency dispatchers have reported a person was struck by lightning near the Clinton Lake Dam Tower. If you’re not in a safe place, SEEK SHELTER NOW.

5:57 p.m. 6News meteorologist Alex Harrington is located west of the intersection of Kansas Highway 10 and Iowa Street. He reports heavy rain, lightning and hail. Douglas County officials report the worst of the storm is moving across Clinton Lake right now. Visibility is marginal in areas along the SLT. THE WORST OF THE STORM IS MOVING INTO LAWRENCE NOW. SEEK SHELTER IN A LOW OR INTERIOR ROOM.

5:51 p.m. A storm with large hail and rotation is heading toward Clinton Dam, Clinton Lake, Clinton State Park and SW Lawrence. Another storm is near Lecompton moving west, northwest. Areas in Lawrence in the line of fire include areas along the South Lawrence Trafficway, and along and north of Sixth Street near Wakarusa Drive, Folks Road and Queens Road. TAKE SHELTER NOW.

5:44 p.m.

Rotation was reported in the southwest corner of Douglas County. Residents in a mobile home should take cover.

5:42 p.m.

The Tornado Warning for Douglas County has been extended until 6:15 p.m.

5:40 p.m.

A storm capable of producing a tornado and quarter-sized hail is expected to hit Clinton State Park at 5:45 p.m.

5:25 p.m.

6Weather and 49News meteorologist Alex Harrington is tracking the storm and will have photos shortly. Stay logged on to LJWorld.com.

5:20 p.m.

A TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NW Douglas County until 5:45 p.m. The alert was upgraded from a watch to a warning.

4:50 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for part of Douglas, Shawnee, Jefferson and Leavenworth counties.

At 4:54 p.m. trained weather spotters reported a severe thunderstorm producing quarter-size hail located near Scranton and moving northwest toward extreme northwest Douglas County

A severe thunderstorm warning is also in effect in Jefferson and Leavenworth counties, as dopplar radar is indicating a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter-sized hail was moving northwest from central Jefferson County toward Leavenworth County.

A tornado watch remains in effect across the area.

3:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a flood watch for Douglas County effective Sunday afternoon until Monday morning.

Widespread thunderstorms with heavy rainfall will develop across the region on Sunday afternoon and continue through the night, according to the National Weather Service. Two to four inches of rain are possible.