Hiker Killed by Lightning Strike in Front of Brother

Craig Nelson had hiked the mountain before. He knew the trail, knew the climb, and was close enough to the summit to nearly taste the finish.

Then, in a terrifying instant, the familiar Utah hike turned deadly.

Nelson, 59, was climbing American Fork Twin Peaks with his brother on Saturday when storm clouds began moving into the area. The two men stopped for lunch and watched the skies, trying to decide whether it was still safe to keep going.

At first, they saw no lightning.

That was the detail that may have made the decision feel less dangerous. After pausing to monitor the weather, the brothers decided to continue toward the summit, according to authorities.

But conditions quickly changed near the top.

As the weather worsened, the brothers agreed it was time to turn around and head back down the mountain. Nelson’s brother made it to the east peak first, while Nelson continued toward the summit.

He was only about 20 feet away from his brother when disaster struck.

Authorities said Nelson collapsed after apparently being hit by lightning near the summit. His brother, suddenly facing an unthinkable scene on the exposed mountain ridge, rushed to call 911.

But the danger was not over.

Rescue crews could not immediately fly into the area because the storm was still active. A helicopter had to wait until conditions improved enough to safely reach the mountain.

By the time help arrived, it was too late.

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing as officials wait for autopsy results. Authorities have not released additional details about the exact circumstances of the lightning strike.

Sheriff Rosie Rivera used the tragedy to warn other hikers about how quickly mountain weather can become deadly, especially at higher elevations where storms can move in with little warning.

She urged people to check the forecast before heading out, pay close attention to changing conditions, and be willing to turn back if the weather begins to deteriorate.

The heartbreaking death is a grim reminder that even experienced hikers can be caught off guard when storms roll over exposed peaks.

For Nelson and his brother, what began as a familiar climb ended in a sudden tragedy just steps from the summit.