Lightning may have been a factor in the deaths of two young boys who died Friday evening when their go-kart went into the Missouri River.

Broadwater County Deputy Coroner Wynn Meehan said Tuesday afternoon that a burn mark on the elbow of 12-year-old Justin Williams, who was driving the go-kart, leads him to believe that the vehicle may have been struck by lightning, causing Williams to be shocked and veer into the river.

"With the information I have, that's the most probable explanation," Meehan said.

However, the official cause of death for both boys is drowning, he said.

Williams and 10-year-old Ethan Ray-James Winscot were driving the go-kart Friday afternoon along a road above the Missouri River. Somehow, it left the road and entered the swiftly-flowing river.

The accident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on a road near the York Island camping area south of Townsend.

"We had some nasty, nasty lightning that day," Meehan said. "There was a lot of it."

"There's no doubt it's a burn," he said of the mark on Williams' elbow. "It's very consistent with a high heat burn, such as with lightning. There's nothing on the go-kart that could have caused it.

"I can't say 100 percent that's what caused it," he added.

Also, he said, a tall flag that was attached to the go-kart and may have acted as a lightning rod was missing when the go-kart was recovered.

No autopsy was performed. However, Meehan said he discussed the burn and his theory of what happened with both a state medical examiner and the Lewis and Clark County coroner.

The boys had been camping with their families near York Island at the time of the accident, according to earlier reports.

Reporter Marga Lincoln: 447-4074 or marga.lincoln@helenair.com