Man Killed By Lightning Had Sought Cover

The only thing sadder than this tragic story is the ghoulish reporters letting us know they tried to reach the Bugatti family TWICE for comment--unsuccessfully. Well, duh! What could you possibly hope to gain from contacting them? Our drive-by media at work.

Ghoulish? Ya think maybe the reporters wanted to give the family an opportunity to speak since their relative's name was going to be all over the front page the next morning?

And if they didn't call, you'd be whining how the reporter didn't do his job because he did not try to get a comment.

The poor man that was killed was named Mauricio Bugatti, which is the name of a famous Italian line of racing cars. They are considered some of the most prized vintage cars available. A new car factory using the Bugatti name is in France building over-the-top sports cars in the $200,000 to $500,000 range. I wonder if this man was a direct relation?

journalism isn't always about being sensitive. the mention of the attempt to contact the family is journalism 101. if you are running the story (maybe more so on page one) you have an obligation, and at least an opportunity, to offer the subjects a chance to go on the record. the family didn't return calls, but they could have if they felt the need to. it is standard operating procedure to report that someone has been contacted. the other options are: don't try to contact the victim's family (wrong), or try to contact them but don't mention it (wrong) leaving the impression that they have no interest in being heard.

i'm sure that we would all prefer that the story be free of tragedy, but this one wasn't.

a news reader wrote:

The poor man that was killed was named Mauricio Bugatti, which is the name of a famous Italian line of racing cars. They are considered some of the most prized vintage cars available. A new car factory using the Bugatti name is in France building over-the-top sports cars in the $200,000 to $500,000 range. I wonder if this man was a direct relation?

Okay, WTF does this have to do with getting hit by lightening??? What if his name was Chevy?? And he had a daughter Porsche? Who was married to a guy named Lincoln?? Wow??? I wonder what that would all mean?? Spooky,eh????

My sympathies to the victims and their families. Lightning is a low probability event with very high danger. Most people don't take it seriously enough. The Courant article is actually quite good. I would differ with the expert's opinion in that a metal car would rate a 9.9 out of 10 for safety. A ragtop or plastic car would be about as safe from lightning as the pavilion.

One might question the DEP's procedures for thunderstorms at State Parks. Ordering people off the beach and water (the most dangerous place) is fine, but having them crowd into the pavilions or boardwalks is almost as dangerous. The evacuation order has to be given soon enough for people to get back to their cars, which, at Hammonasset and Rocky Neck, is a long hike.

Interesting that lightening rods would not have helped. I guess standing under the storm shelter on the golf course isn't a good idea anymore.

CJTalker wrote:

Interesting that lightening rods would not have helped. I guess standing under the storm shelter on the golf course isn't a good idea anymore.

ummm...it was NEVER a good idea

Well now wrote:

Let's go to the beach, especially late in the day, and stay out on the beach even though the severe weather has been predicted since 6 a.m. this morning on T.V., and see if we can get off the beach at the last possible nano second. But if we can't, we'll find a pavillion right out in the middle of the beach. That should be safe, right? And I'll stand right next to one of the pillars leading to the ground! Sound good? Great! Let's go have some fun!

Your comments are really in poor taste and insensitive to the family whose loved one died in this tragedy.

Duh, they closed the beach but allowed paying beach goers to stand in hazardous places? Criminal charges against the boss of the day, or a suit against the state for lack of supervision?

Retired cop wrote:

Duh, they closed the beach but allowed paying beach goers to stand in hazardous places? Criminal charges against the boss of the day, or a suit against the state for lack of supervision?

Yea, let's sue the farking bastages! That'll do some good!!!!

Some of the comments were just plain mean. Do you think these people went to the beach thinking there was going to be a storm with lightning that was going to knock their socks off? Who among us realized that standing under a wooden pavilian would not offer protection prior to this incident? Not everyone watches TV at 6 AM before going to the beach. As for the sue happy "retired cop", you sound like an attorney looking for some fast cash. Please give us all a break and keep your useless comments to yourself. And the car comments belong elsewhere.

If this was the worst place to be in a lightning storm , why didn't the lifeguards get the people out of there ? Are they not trained in public saftey ? Where was the rescue team? Did anyone perfrom CPR ? I realize this was an act of nature, but shouldn't someone employed by the state at these parks be equipped and knowledgable in these types of situations ? I knew this young man, and it is shame that this tragedy could not have been prevented by a recorded message telling folks to seek shelter in thier autos and not under the pavillions.

you are an idiot !!!! not everybody was aware of the storm. These people where packing up to leave. Again where was the beach patrol ?

Well now wrote:

Let's go to the beach, especially late in the day, and stay out on the beach even though the severe weather has been predicted since 6 a.m. this morning on T.V., and see if we can get off the beach at the last possible nano second. But if we can't, we'll find a pavillion right out in the middle of the beach. That should be safe, right? And I'll stand right next to one of the pillars leading to the ground! Sound good? Great! Let's go have some fun!

I would like to see some follow up on storm safety. What particularly disturbs is that the writer quoted someone who claimed that a lightning rod on the pavilion would not have helped.

Other than building a Faraday cage, which would look a bit like a jail holding cell on the beach, what else can be done?

Yup wrote:

<quoted text>
You are entitled to your opinion, just like I am to mine!!!

Your comments come across as if you are a miserable and lonely person and something died in you. My condolences to you.

Yup wrote:

<quoted text>
You are entitled to your opinion, just like I am to mine!!!

I noticed your Hartford location. Were you on Park Street the other day?

Well, my children know the danger as they have lived here all thier lives. This young man is from another country and might not have known the danger. I am not trying to blame anyone here,I am only asking these questions to insure the saftey of MY family should this ever happen.This man was a close personal friend of my family. Perhaps I should have said what an insensitive, cold hearted,idiot you are.

How truly sad for this mans family, how much more precious life is (should be) than anyTHING in this world.
To say anything else is truly with out heart, and classless.

It is all simply tragic. Most people know to "seek shelter" immediately for severe weather. Not all know that automobiles are safe shelter from lightning; while dangerous for tornadic storms. Nor was anyone psychic about the lightning strike.

Prayers to the families involved.