Lightning strikes kill three people within a week

Three people died from lightning strikes within the past week in Arizona, Colorado and Louisiana.

A man was killed after getting struck by lightning on a golf course in suburban Denver on Tuesday evening, CBS Denver station KCNC-TV reports.

The fast-moving storm caught golfers by surprise. Sources confirmed to the station that two 23-year-old men were struck by lightning on the course, and Peter Hawkes was killed.

Witnesses told KCNC-TV the two men had huddled under a tree when the bolt struck. Gene Lucero told the station Hawkes was rushed to the hospital. The other man seemed to be OK.

"He was sitting up in the gurney as he was lifted into the ambulance," Lucero said.

Two other people were injured by a lightning strike at the El Paso County Fairgrounds on Tuesday evening.

In northern Arizona, a 17-year-old boy died after being struck by lightning near the summit of Humphreys Peak, authorities said.

Coconino County Sheriff's officials said a group of three hikers called 911 dispatchers shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday to report the incident during a heavy monsoon storm in the Flagstaff area.

A sheriff's spokeswoman released a statement saying a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man have been transported to Flagstaff Medical Center with injuries that were likely received due to their proximity to the lightning strike. Both were conscious and walking when emergency responders reached them.

She said emergency responders had been delayed due to continuous lightning on the San Francisco Peaks.

The three hikers were from Tempe. No other information was released about the victims.

Last Thursday in Louisiana, police said a lightning strike left one man dead and another man injured after they sought cover under a tree during a rainstorm.

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Beau Clark told The Advocate the man died on the afternoon of July 14 shortly after the strike.

Police Sgt. Don A. Coppola Jr. said the two men had been working on a roof when they sought cover under the tree and lightning suddenly hit nearby.