If the static charge had been less intense, and 
    satisfied an equilibrium before even reaching in the 
    ground..

fun aside, this is potentially exhibited in the video

if you watch the video one of the routes the original bolt takes loops back in on itself, right at the top of the frame

then it seems a second bolt follows that same loop, there is a momentary irradiance

if you watch the lower branches, some that had faded irradiate as well

possibly implying the original bolt may have lacked sufficient energy to reach the earth, but the second was able to piggy back on the original's expended effort

or it all could just be artifacts of the camera and its sensors

just such a cool video