Jersey Shore storm: Boats damaged, police vehicles hit by lightning

AVALON, N.J. -- Beach patrol boats were blown to smithereens by a fast-moving storm at the Jersey Shore Tuesday that took everyone by surprise.

"All of a sudden it got dark like it was midnight -thunder and lightning," Maddy Sasso of New York City said.

"Lifeguards called everyone in, and about 10 minutes later, the winds picked up and everyone ran for cover," Sandy Finnegan of Haddon Heights said.

The rain caused minor flooding on Ocean Drive and 41st Street in Avalon.

The wind uprooted this tree on Dune Drive and knocked over lifeguard stands.

But most impressive was the damage done to five 400 pound boats that lifeguards say flipped down the beach like toys.

"The wind got underneath and they took off in a hurry. It's happened before, but I've never seen a boat completely destroyed," Erich Wolf of the Avalon Beach Patrol said.

The Finnegan family of Haddon Heights returned to the beach later in the evening to see the damage.

"The boats were really heavy and we were questioning how they could snap in half," Mackenna Finnegan said.

"To walk and see something flattened out it's amazing. You just don't know it has the power," Sandy Finnegan said.

Lightning from the storm also struck two state police vehicles parked along the Garden State Parkway nearby in Middle Township, Cape May County.

The incident happened around 2:13 p.m.

State police officials say the vehicles were in a construction zone as a storm cell moved over the area.

Both troopers were inside their vehicles.

Neither trooper sustain serious injuries. One trooper was taken to Atlantic City Medical Center in Pamona for observation, but was released.

The other trooper did not require any medical attention.