50 members of a Utah church youth group checked after lightning strike

SALINA, Utah (KSL.com) — About 50 members of a Salina church youth group felt the effects of a nearby lightning strike while hiking Thursday, and seven of them were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis said the group was “hiking south of Fremont Junction near the Willow Springs Overlook in eastern Sevier County when it began to rain around 1:45 p.m.”

“A light rainstorm in the area caused water to puddle on the ground. During the hike, lightning struck the ground next to the youth. Approximately 50 youth felt the lightning strike. Seven (of them) experienced health issues due to the shock. The seven were transported by ambulance from Emery and Sevier counties to Salina where they were evaluated due to their symptoms,” Curtis said in a prepared statement.

Two members of the group who were “exhibiting severe symptoms” were flown by medical helicopter to Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi for further treatment. The others, from a Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints stake in Salina, were taken to Gunnison Valley Hospital and Sevier Valley Hospital.

“At this time, we believe none of the injuries are life-threatening,” the sheriff said.

Curtis told KSL.com that numbness was one of the symptoms the teens experienced. He said all of the patients were talking and breathing and no one was burned by the lightning, which did not hit anyone directly. The hiking group consisted of about 100 teens in total, between the ages of 14 and 17, both boys and girls, as well as adult leaders. Curtis said the two teens flown to Lehi were reportedly doing “pretty well” as of Thursday evening.

Landslide in Arches

Meanwhile, heavy rains and landslides are again occurring in the area around Moab and Arches National Park.

Due to two landslides on US 191, the entrance to Arches was briefly closed.

“US 191 at Arches Road is completely closed in both directions as emergency crews clear a landslide,” Moab city officials posted on social media. The landslide occurred around 4 p.m. At 5:27 p.m., the city posted, “US 191 at Arches National Park Road remains closed while emergency crews clear the landslide on the road. A second landslide has also occurred north of this area.” And at 5:46 p.m., the city posted, “Northbound and southbound lanes of US 191 are now reopened. It will take some time to clear the backed up traffic, but vehicles are now moving.”

By 6:20 p.m., US 191 and all city streets except Kane Creek Boulevard were open.