STORM2K

Lightning kills two Utah campers
Three children also injured in strike
Sunday, July 20, 2003 Posted: 9:53 PM EDT (0153 GMT)


The Goff family was struck by lightning Saturday.



SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Two adults were killed and their three children injured by lightning that struck a mountain campground where the family sought shelter under trees.

The adults were identified as Richard Goff and his wife, Lisa, both 34. Their children, whose ages were not released, were expected to recover from unspecified injuries, authorities said. The family's hometown was not released.

The family took cover Saturday under trees near the shore of Crystal Lake, about 60 miles east of Salt Lake City in the 12,000-foot Uinta mountain range.

The children were taken by a medical helicopter to Salt Lake City hospitals. Two went to Primary Children's Medical Center and the other to University of Utah Hospital. The hospitals declined to release information about their conditions Sunday.

Thats truly tragic and sad Jeff....those kids not only injured, but now orphans...and it could have been easily avoided

I've warned folks for years...DON'T ever take cover from a thunderstorm under a tree (not only because of lightning, but the danger of strong winds causing falling trees.

We've had four people killed here in metro Atlanta in July alone from trees falling during severe thunderstorms, crushing vehicles underneath...including a young mother and her two babies in their SUV a few days ago....the father was the only survivor, and he's totally devastated

What an awful tragedy and way to die. Something that can be prevented, by not going outside when there is even a threat of lightning... things like this will occur less often.

Being campers, you think they would have known to never sit under a tree during a lightening storm. And they were sitting in aluminum chairs. What a tragic end to a family vacation. And those poor children, to lose both parents at the same time. My heart and prayers goes out to their family. Very sad story, indeed.

These poor children - doomed to have such a tragic impact on their lives. For one, to lose both parents and for another, to witness it. Your heart just aches for these children. I hope and pray they have loving relatives who will raise and nurture them thru life. That's what they need right now. And to be able to talk about this tragedy. The mom in me just comes out when I hear stories like this - you just want to sit down with these kids and say - let it all out. Watch out for them too.

Very sad news... Thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.

How terribly sad......I really feel for those kids. To lose both parents at once is almost unbearable! I can't help but get upset though that the family took cover under a tree. You would think they would know better but for some reason, people always run under a tree for cover. I guess we need to really educate people on this. It's obviously not common knowlege like I thought it was. I've seen people at the beach, lake, golf courses, etc. take cover under trees during thunderstorms. It is just so tragic......those poor children.