Lightning DID Strike Irrigator Which Killed 2 Detasselers

Balloon Release held tonight at Challand school in memory of the two girls killed.
* Services for Hannah Kendall, 14, of Sterling: Friday, (July 29) at 10 a.m. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sterling. Visitation from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home, Sterling...for Jade Garza, 14, of Sterling: Friday, 1:30 p.m. at the McDonald Funeral Home, Rock Falls. Visitation, 5-8 p.m., Thursday, same location.
* Meanwhile, local radio station AM 1240 WSDR, aired the Sterling Girls Little League Softball game today and will again tomorrow. On the team are members of the same town, school, and more. They, too, are taking the spirit of the girls along with them as they continue on.
7.27.11 UPDATE: Monsanto bought De Kalb (flying ear of corn, my birthplace) Genetics in 1988. They will be celebrating 100 years of the flying ear. When I detasseled for them it was De Kalb Ag Research. Monsanto is based in St. Louis and inquiries are being directed there. However, the De Kalb firm is following the sad case very closely.
1. Note: ponds in fields all over due to heavy rains over the weekend; was there a lightning strike?; reports have that it may have been struck by lightning on Sunday (KWQC) and, perhaps, no detasseling should have taken place Monday. It was noted by me that being behind schedule may have forced the issue of getting in the field. Monsanto has confirmed that lighting DID strike the irrigator.
From KWQC: In an e-mail, Monsanto spokesperson Tom Helscher writes "lightning damage to the power supply for the irrigator has been observed. However, to our knowledge exactly how or if that may have contributed to the accident has not been determined and investigation of the matter is still underway."