Two Texas soccer players killed by lightning

Lightning strikes during a severe thunderstorms over northern Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday, June 20, 2011. / AP Photo

(AP) HOUSTON - Two men have been killed and a third injured after they were struck by lightning during a thunderstorm in Houston.

Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Thomas Gilliland says a men's league soccer club had been playing on a field Sunday when it began to rain around noon.

The men decided to seek shelter underneath some nearby trees.

Gilliland says lightning then struck one of the trees, killing one of the men. Two others were also hit and transported to a Houston hospital, where one of them was pronounced dead.

The third man remains in stable condition at Ben Taub General Hospital.

Authorities have not released the names of any of the men.

The Houston area has been drenched by rain the past week, flooding between 50 and 100 homes.

[knewsteerrrrr]

Guess they didn't PRAY hard enough so god smitted them.

izzit just me... or like didn't their PARENTS treach them by like age 5 that during a storm you NEVER go near trees cause they are lightning rods?!
These idiots didn't learn that lesson, or their parents didn't teach it to em, either way, it's a Darwin award X 2 in order.

[gnimelf1968]

I don't know. I was taught a "tree" during a storm was NOT the place to be.

[MagnaCartaUK]

Well Georgie boy, I couldn't give a toss what you call it - it's called football everywhere else so that trumps it. As for football not giving a 'crap' about these two - you're evidently ill-informed on that too. Football does an immense of good around the World with projects in the community, aid projects in the developing World. Barcelona sponsor Unicef, and have their logo on their shirt for example. You realy shouldn't judge football by your own low standards, or perhaps you feel threatened at the rate in which football is emerging in the country. Too bad for you Georgie boy. Again, condolences to these two footballers.

[kwbryson]

I am offended by the character of comments attached to this tragic story. This is not political. This is human tragedy. There is no need to attach judgment to the behavior of these victims of the lightning strike. I am astonished that CBS news permits these types of comments on their website and this is the last time I will enter the CBS news site given the type of comment this news organization permits on their web site.

[caljack430]

That's probably good, because as much as I agree with you... everyone else has their own right to comment whatever they want to on these articles. Just as you have the right to not read them. I would recommend staying away from all news sources though since all of them will have some bigoted and ignorant comments no matter what. Welcome to America.

[kwbryson]

Interesting that CBS moderators removed the polarizing and offensive comments that spurred my comment. The "pursuit of happiness" entails a certain empathy for other humans in our community - free speech should not entail the destruction or oppression of others. Trolls are revealed in studies to be odious individuals in their personal lives - not just their virtual web existence. As an outdoors person -and a Texan - I can attest to the danger of the storms that sweep across our state - and the occasional and tragic lapse of judgment that leads to such tragedies. Could have been me and my friends.

[MagnaCartaUK]

Always sickening to hear of such events, and obviously even more so when it involves fatalities. From the land that gave the sport, deepest sympathty to the families affected, their clubmates and friends. Whether you play as a famous professional or an unknown amateur, football always feels the loss of a player, known or unknown, and wherever they may be. A case of footballing potential and life crually cut short. The World of football mourns too.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

It's soccer, not football......in America the word football, refers to American Rules football....here we call it soccer, as in World Cup Soccer.....and I doubt the "world of football" gives a crap about these two.