Ski Patrol Assists With "Freak Accident" Lightning Strike In Utah

On Saturday, July 18, 2026, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue unit responded to a call about a hiker who had been struck by lightning and had subsequently fallen, just after noon.

The individual was hiking near the summit of the east peak of the American Fork Twin Peaks, located just south of Snowbird Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah.

The Utah Department of Public Safety quickly dispatched a helicopter to locate the patient. Once the storm had cleared, a Search and Rescue team and DPS personnel were able to access the individual. Tragically, the patient, who was identified as a 59-year-old man, did not survive his injuries and died on scene.

Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue thanked Snowbird Ski Patrol for assisting with safely escorting the patient’s hiking partner off the mountain, according to reports on the incident. They also thanked DPS for their support through skilled aviation and other assistance.

American Fork Twin Peaks is a prominent mountain in the Wasatch Range with two summits. The east peak stands at 11,489 feet, and the west peak stands at 11,539 feet. The east peak is often accessed using Snowbird Resort’s Aerial Tram.

Comments on Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue’s post about the incident reported that the storm moved in very quickly and that the first clap of thunder and lightning was likely the one that hit the hiker in a freak accident.

POWDER extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and all those affected by the tragedy.

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