What to pack in your emergency technology kit
Emergency technology kits allow you to keep some of your most critical devices powered even when severe weather occurs.
problem solved
A Colorado teenager was struck and killed by lightning while hiking on Blue Sky Mountain while trying to protect his younger brother, according to his family and local authorities.
At approximately 1:22 p.m. local time on July 26, Clear Creek County Public Safety officials received a report of a lightning strike atop Blue Sky Mountain that may have injured a person, the county sheriff’s office said. As multiple emergency agencies were on the scene, authorities received a second report confirming that a person on the summit had been injured by lightning.
Denver Mountain Park rangers began life-saving measures on the victim as soon as they arrived on the mountain, but were unable to revive him, according to the sheriff’s office. The Clear Creek County Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as 15-year-old Levi Strobel.
The second victim, identified as the teenager’s brother, was airlifted to a Denver-area hospital by Flight for Life Colorado, the sheriff’s office said.
The brothers were hiking in a party of five, according to the sheriff’s office. Two men in the group suffered minor injuries but were not taken to the hospital.
“Our collective thoughts and prayers go out to the families, loved ones, and victims of this tragedy. We ask that you respect the privacy of the victims and their families,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Mount Blue Sky is a 4,265-foot mountain in the Rocky Mountains approximately 60 miles west of Denver. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area receives more than 100,000 visitors each year.
Family: Teens were ‘brave and loving siblings’
In a statement shared by the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the Strobel family described the boy as a “deeply loved” son, brother, family member and friend whose Christian faith shaped his life.
“Our family is heartbroken by the sudden death of our beloved Levi, who was struck by lightning at Blue Sky Mountain yesterday. He brought immeasurable joy to the world and the lives of all who knew him,” the family said in a statement on July 27.
“In his final moments, Levi displayed the courage and selflessness that characterized his life, trying to protect his brother who was with him on the mountain,” the statement continued. “He was a brave and loving brother, and we will always remember his dedication to those he loved.”
The Strobel family said they are “grateful for the outpouring of compassion, prayers and support.” The family asked for privacy and space for the grieving public.
Teen’s brother hospitalized after lightning strike
According to a GoFundMe page set up to support the family, the incident occurred while Strobel was hiking with his brother Jace and some of their friends.
Strobel’s brother was seriously injured in the incident, but his condition “improved overnight and the family remains hopeful as he continues on the road to recovery,” the fundraiser said.
The boy’s parents, long-time members of the Erie community outside Denver, “will remain by Jace’s side as they grieve Levi’s devastating loss and support their two other sons,” the fundraiser said.
The GoFundMe page says donations will help cover medical expenses, funeral costs, counseling and other unexpected expenses in the coming months.
Latest lightning fatalities in the US in 2026
Strobel’s death is the sixth lightning fatality reported in the United States so far this year, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.
As of July 27, at least seven people have died from lightning strikes, including a man hiking atop a popular mountain in Utah and a man who fell into the water off Fort Myers Beach, Florida, earlier this month.
The agency reported that 21 people died in strikes last year, and another 14 the year before.
According to the agency, the chance of being struck by lightning during its estimated 80-year lifespan is approximately 1 in 20,000.
According to the agency, the chance of being struck by lightning during an estimated 80-year lifetime is approximately 1 in 20,000. Here are four ways people get struck by lightning, as previously reported by USA TODAY.
- transmission: This is the cause of most deaths and injuries from indoor lightning strikes. Lightning travels through wires and other metal surfaces.
- Direct attack: People are usually part of the main emission pathway when they are outdoors in open areas.
- Side flash: When lightning strikes a tall object, some of the current jumps from that object to the victim. For example, if a person is standing under a tree and is struck by lightning.
- Ground current: Lightning enters the body at the point closest to the lightning strike, travels through the body, and exits at the point of contact furthest from the initial lightning strike. This causes most casualties.
Contributor: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
