1 dog killed, 3 people hurt after Colorado lightning strike
One dog was killed and three people were taken to a hospital after a lightning strike 500 feet below the summit of Mount Bierstadt late Sunday morning.
Clear Creek County dispatch received multiple calls about a lightning strike on the popular 14er about 11:30 a.m.
Up to 16 people were injured as multiple agencies responded to the trailhead that starts at the top of Guanella Pass, the Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office said.
All of the victims made their way down the mountain, with eight adults getting assistance from medical personnel.
Three of the victims were transported to metro-area hospitals, two with nonlife-threatening injuries and one with serious injures. The other five declined further treatment.
Thirty responders from the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Alpine Rescue Team, Clear Creek EMS, Summit County Search and Rescue, Gilpin County EMS, Clear Creek Office of Emergency Management, Clear Creek Fire Authority, Clear Creek Advocates and Rocky Mountain Rescue are on scene.
Weather conditions would not allow for Flights for Life helicopter.
All hikers who were on the trail were accounted for and off the mountain, the sheriff’s office said.
