Authorities Seek Help Identifying Woman Struck by Lightning in Colorado

The unidentified victim remains in critical condition after the incident in Superior, Colorado.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:56pm

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted tones, with a lone, solitary tree in the foreground partially obscured by heavy, ominous storm clouds. The dramatic, atmospheric scene conveys the overwhelming power and sublime scale of a violent thunderstorm, without depicting any specific human figures or physical damage.A powerful spring thunderstorm in Colorado serves as a sobering reminder of the life-threatening danger posed by lightning strikes, even for those simply enjoying the outdoors.Superior Today

Authorities in Boulder County, Colorado, are asking for the public's help to identify a woman who was struck by lightning while running on a walking path in the Town of Superior on Thursday. The woman was found unresponsive beneath a tree that had been hit, and first responders were able to revive her, but she remains in critical condition at a Denver-area hospital.

Why it matters

The case highlights the life-threatening danger of spring thunderstorms in Colorado, and the challenge authorities face when victims cannot immediately be identified, which can delay notification of family and medical history that could aid treatment. Colorado consistently ranks among the states with higher lightning fatality totals.

The details

Deputies responded at approximately 5:39 p.m. on April 9 to reports that a woman had been struck by lightning along a path behind Lasalle Street in Superior where bystanders had begun CPR before first responders arrived. The woman was found beneath a tree that had been hit. First responders initially found the woman had no detectable pulse and was not breathing, but after continued resuscitation she regained a faint pulse and then began breathing independently before being transported for advanced care.

  • On April 9, deputies responded to the incident around 5:39 p.m.
  • The woman remains in critical condition at a Denver-area hospital as of Friday.

The players

Boulder County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency investigating the incident and seeking the public's help to identify the victim.

National Weather Service

A meteorologist from the NWS reported there were roughly 60 lightning strikes in Boulder County within a span of several minutes around the time of the incident, with about 30 to 33 striking the ground.

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What they’re saying

“What we're really encouraging people to do to help us identify her is get a photograph of her prior to the incident. So, we're encouraging anyone in that Superior area, Lasalle sits right in the middle, in the heart of Superior, off of El Dorado Drive. Anybody in that area between the hours of 4:30 p.m. until about 5:39 p.m. yesterday, on April 9, we're asking the community to check their security cameras. If they have any Ring cameras or any information from their security devices that they think would be helpful, if they were able to capture this young lady running by, we'd love to get that video footage or still footage so we can get that out to the public.”

— Vinnie Montez, Public Information Officer, Boulder County Sheriff's Office

“This is the time of year we start to see this, it's shoulder season and we're approaching the severe weather season.”

— Kenley Bonner, Meteorologist, National Weather Service

What’s next

The BCSO said its digital forensics team was working to recover data from the woman's damaged phone and that investigators would continue canvassing the neighborhood for video or other leads to establish her identity. Officials asked anyone with information or relevant footage from April 9 between 4:30 p.m. and 5:39 p.m. in the Superior area near Lasalle Street to contact 303-441-4444.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for heightened awareness and safety precautions during Colorado's severe weather season, as well as the challenges authorities can face when victims cannot be immediately identified, potentially delaying critical medical care and notification of family.