Daily News: Seven teenagers hospitalized after lightning strike in Sevier County

This is your summary of the daily news for Friday, June 28. In this edition:

Lightning strikes leave seven teenagers hospitalized, two with severe symptoms

7:12 am

Lightning struck near a hiking group of youth in Sevier County. About 50 members of a Salina church youth group were hiking Thursday when they felt the effects of a nearby lightning strike. Seven of them were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis said a light rain shower in the area caused water to puddle on the ground. While the teen was hiking, lightning struck the ground next to him.

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 youth group of the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints, were taken to Gunnison Valley Hospital and Sevier Valley Hospital.

Entrance to Arches National Park temporarily closed due to landslides

7:12 am

The entrance to Arches National Park was briefly closed on Thursday due to two landslides on US 191.

Moab city officials posted on social media that the landslide occurred around 4 p.m. US 191 at Arches National Park Road remained closed while emergency crews cleared the landslide.

A second landslide also occurred in the north. Within two hours, US 191 and all but one of the city’s streets were reopened.

After nearly 100 complaints, a Utah gynecologist was charged with sexual abuse

7:12 am

David Harrison Broadbent, 77, has been charged with sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, stemming from an alleged incident in July 2020.

Two years later, in 2022, another 94 women filed lawsuits against Broadbent, alleging that they were sexually abused by him during their medical treatment.

Fourth District Judge Robert C. Lunnen dismissed the case on the grounds that the issues raised were intended to be part of a medical malpractice suit and that he therefore did not have jurisdiction over the issues raised.

In October, the women appealed to the Utah Supreme Court. As of Thursday, the state’s highest court had not yet made a decision.