Lightning Fatality on Bristlecone Loop Tail in Bryce National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park (UT)
Lightning Strike Fatality

On Thursday, August 12th, a 58-year-old Dutch national who was hiking the Bristlecone Loop Trail with his wife and another couple was struck by lightning near Yovimpa Point (elevation 9,000 feet). The incident was reported by visitors to a Bryce Canyon shuttle bus driver who immediately called the park via radio. Five rangers responded, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The body recovery and investigation were conducted jointly by the park and Garfield County Sheriff’s Department. The last time a visitor was struck by lightning at Bryce Canyon was in September, 2002. The woman recovered after spending over a week in intensive care. It marked the fifth time that a visitor has been struck by lightning in the park in the last 20 years. [Submitted by Colleen Bathe, Public Information Officer]
http://data2.itc.nps.gov/morningreport/morningreportold.cfm?date=08%2F17%2F2004