Two Georgia teenagers, Joey Nelson Jr., 18, and Randall Martin III, 19, were killed in a lightning strike during a fishing trip in Waycross, Georgia, on July 10, 2025. The incident occurred as they were returning to their car after being caught in a severe thunderstorm. Deputies responded to a 911 call at around 10:15 p.m., finding the pair dead next to their car. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) stated that Nelson and Martin were fishing when the storm struck, and as they attempted to return to their car, they were struck by lightning.
The vehicle was also reportedly hit by lightning, indicating the severity of the storm. A GoFundMe campaign created for Nelson’s family described him as a 2025 high school graduate who was