Overview
- Clear Creek County agencies received a report at about 1:22 p.m. Sunday after a lightning strike near the summit of Mount Blue Sky hit a five-person hiking party and one teen could not be revived.
- Denver Mountain Parks rangers and other mountain rescue teams performed life-saving measures at the scene while Flight For Life Colorado airlifted the 15-year-old’s younger brother to a Denver-area hospital for treatment.
- The Clear Creek County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as 15-year-old Levi Strobel and the family said he spent his final moments trying to protect his younger brother.
- Two adult members of the hiking group sustained minor injuries and were not hospitalized while local agencies continue incident documentation and have asked for privacy for the family.
- Officials and safety experts warned that Colorado’s high elevations often produce fast-building afternoon storms during June through September and advised hikers to descend from exposed terrain and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming activity.