Texas
Pastor Killed by Lightning
July
25, 2007
San
Antonio, Texas-The
pastor of a local San Antonio church was killed by a lightning strike Tuesday
afternoon while hiking with his two sons in the Lost Maples State Natural Area
near Vanderpool. The park is located about 65 miles northwest of San Antonio.
50-year-old
William Clardy, pastor of Grace Fellowship Baptist Church and his two teenage
sons were seeking shelter from the rain under a cedar tree when he was hit by
lightning and killed instantly, officials said.
Clardy's 18-year-old son
ran for help, but responding emergency personal were unable to revive the pastor.
"We were too late when we got there," Los Maples Lead Park Ranger Bill
Bailey said. "He was already deceased."
The two brothers suffered
non-life-threatening injuries but were rushed to University Hospital for observation
and were later released.
"There
were mostly burn marks around their ankles where the lightning passed through,"
Bailey said.
Clardy had been paster at Grace Fellowship Baptist Church
located at 7804 Eckhard Road for the past three years.
