Photographer captured lightning near Mount Timpanogos as hiker was killed in storm

OREM, Utah (KUTV) — A photographer watching thunderstorms move across Mount Timpanogos early Friday morning captured a lightning strike from the base of the mountain — unaware that a 19-year-old hiker had been critically injured near the summit. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said a group of hikers had reached the summit when a large thunderstorm moved in. They sought shelter inside a small structure near the summit, where lightning struck. Multiple people were injured, and the 19-year-old man later died. Search and rescue crews were called around 6 a.m. and worked with other agencies to provide medical aid and evacuate those affected in severe weather.

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Scoop News DeskMount Timpanogos, Utah · Published Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 3:28 AM UTCUpdated Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 3:51 PM UTC

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Several others injured Taylor Ehat said he woke up early and headed to one of his favorite photography locations near Mill Canyon, several miles from the Mount Timpanogos trailhead. “I’ve been up to this spot near Mill Canyon several times, and it’s one of my favorite places to go shoot,” Ehat said. “Whenever there’s a storm that comes in, I love to get up there.” When he arrived before sunrise, Ehat said he could see headlamps from hikers on the mountain. “When I first arrived about 6 in the morning, I could see there were headlamps on Timpanogos,” he said.