4 people in critical condition after apparent lightning strike at DC park

Four  people are in critical condition following an apparent lightning strike  at a Washington, D.C., park, authorities said Thursday evening.

D.C. Fire and EMS said it had responded to Lafayette Park, located in front of the White House

and was treating the four patients that were found in "the vicinity of a tree."

Two  men and two women were transported to area hospitals with  "life-threatening injuries" after the apparent lightning strike, D.C.  Fire and EMS said.

Officials  said it's still unclear what the adults were doing prior to the  lightning strike, if they knew each other and why they were in the park.

The identity of the victims could not be confirmed while the investigation is still ongoing, officials said.

Uniformed  U.S. Park Police officers and members of the Secret Service were also  on the scene and immediately rendered aid to the victims

an EMS official said during a news conference.