Danger! High Voltage! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Virginia

Shenandoah National Park was established in December of 1935 and encompasses nearly 200,000 acres of land along the Shenandoah River and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Roy Sullivan began his career as a park ranger (at Shenandoah National Park) beginning in 1940, working there until he retired in 1976.

Answer: A lightning rod

When it happened, the tower was struck by lightning seven or eight times with "fire jumping all over the place" inside the tower. Sullivan didn't actually get struck until he ran outside the tower. His injuries included a half-inch wide burn all down his right leg, as well as his toe (losing his toenail).

Answer: He was patrolling in his truck

One would think that being in a vehicle would keep one safe from lightning, and normally this would be true, as vehicles are insulated. In this instance, however, the lightning did not actually strike Sullivan's truck, but rather struck a tree to one side of the truck, then deflected through the open windows of the truck to strike another tree on the opposite side of the vehicle.

The lightning knocked Sullivan unconscious, while burning off much of his hair in the process.

Answer: At home in his front yard.

Records have it that the lightning struck a nearby transformer, from where it jumped to strike him in the shoulder.

Answer: A ranger station

Due to the job that Roy had, he naturally had more exposure to lightning storms than the average person would have. Statistics state that over an 80-year lifetime, the odds of being struck by lightning are approximately 1:10,000. Being struck more than once? A lot more unlikely.

However, consider these statistics (source: Wikipedia page on Roy Sullivan):

Virginia averages 35-45 thunderstorm days per year (mostly in June/July/August)

Between 1959 and 2000, 58 people died from lightning strikes, while an additional 238 were injured. (Most were between the age of 20-40, caught outdoors).

Answer: The cloud seemed to be following him

In both instances, he claimed that the cloud seemed to be following him before he was struck.

Roy had, by this time, made it a practice to take preventative measures whenever a lightning storm threatened. He would stop his vehicle (if driving) and lie down until the storm passed. He also (purportedly) kept water nearby to help douse himself if he caught fire.

In 1973, he was on patrol, then tried to escape it (driving away). He thought he had outrun it, but after leaving his truck, he was nevertheless struck. According to the Wikipedia article on Roy Sullivan, "the lightning set his hair on fire, moved down his left arm and left leg and knocked off his shoe, although it did not untie the lace. It then crossed over to his right leg just below the knee."

In 1976, he was in a campground when he saw a cloud, tried to run away, but it followed him and he was struck in the ankle.

Answer: True

Roy had been helping his wife Patricia with the laundry, hanging clothes on the line outside, when she was struck. Amazingly enough, Roy himself escaped injury that time.

Answer: Roy's boss - park superintendent R. Taylor Hoskins

Superintendent Hoskins took Sullivan's reports, verifying that what he claimed did indeed happen. In addition, doctors confirmed his injuries and their origin.

All accounts that I read on Sullivan's life mentioned that Hoskins was the one who verified all of his claims... that would have even included the ones 'at home'. I can only assume, given his history and his job, that he always informed his boss of what had happened - even when off duty.

Answer: False

Sullivan's seventh strike occurred in 1977, while he was fishing. According to reports, the strike hit him on his head (singeing his hair), then traveled down his chest and stomach.

It was not until 1983 that Sullivan died, reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Answer: GOD

Roy Sullivan died on September 28, 1983, and his funeral was held at the Etter Funeral home on October 1st. He was interred at Edgewood Cemetery in Grottoes (Virginia). In addition to the epitaph on his tombstone, there is also a lovely etching of a forest scene with a leaping deer.

(source: www.findagrave.com)