Colorado rancher and 34 cattle killed by lightning strike – KIRO 7 News Seattle

The impact killed Morgan and knocked over the animals, George Crocket, the Jackson County coroner, told the newspaper.

“The 32 cattle did not get back up,” Crocket told the Sun. “As far as I can tell, it hit him on the trailer. The cattle were crowded around the trailer and all got hit.”

The incident occurred in the town of Rand, about 120 miles northwest of Denver, a sheriff’s office spokesman told KCNC-TV.

Morgan, his wife and father-in-law had just branded the cattle and were feeding them when lightning struck around 2:08 p.m. MDT, the Sun reported. His wife and father-in-law survived the lightning.

Crocket told the newspaper it was one of the worst lightning strikes he had ever experienced. He said lightning once killed seven cattle on his grandfather’s ranch.

“I have seen horses killed, but usually it was one at a time,” Crocket told the Sun.

According to the newspaper, Morgan was on the board of the North Park Stockgrowers Association.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends during this difficult time,” said a press release from the sheriff’s office, which KDVR-TV has obtained.

The National Weather Service has kept records of lightning strikes in Colorado from 1980 to 2021, the television station said. It was the first time a lightning strike was recorded in Jackson County during that time period.