The problem you have is that things like Motors and Transformers love magnetic fields..and lightning strikes are accompnaied by ,albeit momentary, very large ones.
It is quite common for nearby strikes to induce dangerous, fatal or at least damaging voltages into any large inductive circuit/device within range of the mag field.
Most people who claim lightning strikes are usually here to speak because they actually got zapped by large voltages induced in them byt the strike field. Normally the bolt would kill instantly from the heat generated by the strike occuring directly to a person.