15-year-old girl killed, woman critically injured by lightning strike at Flaming Gorge


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DUTCH JOHN, Daggett County — A 15-year-old girl was killed and a woman is in critical condition after being struck by lightning in a remote area of Flaming Gorge Friday afternoon, police said.

Daggett County sheriff's spokeswoman Susie Potter said emergency crews were alerted of the incident in the Hideout area of the gorge at about 12:20 p.m.

The woman was driving and the 15-year-old girl was a passenger in a personal watercraft that was directly struck by lightning. A man on another personal watercraft was nearby when the strike occurred. All three individuals are from Utah County.

Potter said the 15-year-old girl was killed and the woman that was critically injured was taken by a medical helicopter and flown to a Salt Lake hospital.

The man driving the other personal watercraft suffered minor injuries and was still on the scene, Potter said. She did not release the victim's names, ages of the adult victims or the relationship between the three.

Potter said the area where the strike occurred is only accessible by boat.

She added the area has received a few storms this week, but not much lightning.

"It does happen, but it's not really common," Potter said.

More information will be added as soon as it is available.

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