Overview
- On Sunday a lightning strike near the summit of Mount Blue Sky hit a group of five hikers, killing 15-year-old Levi Strobel and injuring four others, including his younger brother Jace who was airlifted to a Denver-area hospital.
- Clear Creek County emergency responders, Denver Mountain Parks rangers, the Alpine Rescue Team, Clear Creek EMS and the U.S. Forest Service led on-scene rescue and medical efforts after a 1:22 p.m. report of the strike.
- Levi’s family released a statement saying he tried to shield his younger brother in his final moments and they have asked for privacy as they grieve.
- Rescuers and experts noted Mount Blue Sky often develops storms after midday, and NOAA data show Colorado ranks among the states with the highest number of lightning deaths over the past decade.
- Officials reiterated standard lightning-safety guidance to hikers — descend to lower ground, avoid tall or conductive objects, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning outdoors — as communities absorb the loss.