DAVIE, Fla. – A 19-year-old man died Sunday morning after a possible lightning strike at a park in Davie, according to police.
Sgt. Kelvin Urbaez, a Davie Police Department spokesperson, said authorities responded to Vista View Park, at 4001 SW 142nd Ave., just before 10:30 a.m.
There, officers found a man, identified as 19-year-old Ethan Lawrence, a Broward County resident, dead in the park.
It’s news no parent wants to hear.
“The detectives came over to my car and told me, I don’t know if there’s any easy way to say this I’m just going to tell you your son was running, he was struck by lightning and he didn’t make it,” said Patrick Lawrence, the victim’s father.
Patrick and Lourdes Lawrence are mourning the loss of their son.
“I’m in a state of shock that I lost my baby boy,” said Lourdes Lawrence.
The victim was loved by many. He recently became a father, his baby girl now 6 months old and his girlfriend is devastated.
“The last thing he sent me was a picture of the baby…her sleeping,” said Andrea Medina.
Urbaez said that the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting with the investigation into Lawrence’s death.