Glacier Park hikers hit by lightning

Three people are in serious but stable condition after they were struck by lightning July 17 in Glacier National Park.

According to park officials, a 23-year-old man from Kalispell, a 23-year-old woman from Missoula and an 11-year-old boy were on the St. Mary Falls Trail on the east side of Glacier Park when they were hit by lightning. The three are not family members, but were recreating together.

Visitors in the vicinity of the incident found the three victims unconscious and not breathing, but were able to successfully administered CPR to all three.

Park rangers believe there are no witnesses with a first-hand account of the incident, other than the three victims.

Several park visitors located in other areas on the east side of the park said they saw one or two lightning strikes in the area. A weather system quickly moved through the park that evening, bring a small amount of rain and wind.

Park employees, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office personnel and other visitors used litters to hand carry each individual to the trailhead near the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The child was airlifted to Kalispell via ALERT helicopter, and Glacier County Ambulance transported the two adult patients to Kalispell. ALERT returned and rendezvoused with the ambulance to transport the male patient and the ambulance continued on to Kalispell with the female patient.

The incident is under investigation by the National Park Service.