Fatal Lightning Strike Victim On 14er Was Recently Married

BUENA VISTA, Colo. (CBS4) - The woman killed by lightning in Chaffee County on Friday has been identified by authorities.

Kathleen Bartlett, 31, of Denver, died on Friday while hiking Mount Yale near Buena Vista.

(credit: CBS)

Bartlett was hiking with her newlywed husband Ryan Pocius, 32, who is also from Denver. He was also struck by lightning and was described as being in critical condition at the hospital.

(credit: CBS)

The lightning strike happened on the Denny Creek Trail at 2 p.m. at an elevation of approximately 12,500 feet, which is about 2,000 feet below the summit.

A father and son from Colorado Springs were also struck in the area at approximately the same time, and they both suffered minor injuries but were able to walk to safety. Their names have not been released.

(credit: CBS)

It took search crews more than two hours to reach the Denver man and woman. A Flight for Life helicopter was also delayed in getting to the scene to transport the man to the hospital due to stormy conditions.

Officials with the National Weather Service said there were only two lightning strikes that hit the ground on Mount Yale on Friday.

Mount Yale is one of Colorado's 14ers in the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range.

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