A 23-year-old man was fatally struck by lightning at the Indian Tree Golf Course in Arvada on Tuesday night, CBS Denver reports.
The deceased was one of two people struck on the course, KDVR reported. He has been identified as Peter Hawkes, a University of Colorado Boulder student, by the Denver Post and KDVR.
Golfers were surprised by the amount of lightning the storm brought, according to CBS Denver. Meanwhile, two people were injured by lightning at the El Paso County fairgrounds, ABC 7 reported.
These events are a reminder that lightning often can strike unpredictably far ahead of storms. Lightning strikes are most common here in July.
Safety tips for storms:
- Seek shelter immediately when you hear thunder or spot a storm.
- Study the weather patterns of any place you’ll be doing extended outdoor activities. On the Front Range’s higher mountains, that often means you should be descending by noon.
- If you’re stuck in the open with no chance to make tree line, shelter in the lowest possible place, crouch on the balls of your feet, cover your ears and minimize contact with the ground. In this situation, it’s best to stay away from isolated trees and rocks.
