Lightning bolt kills boy,17, in horrific freak accident | World | News
A 17-year-old Louisiana teenager died after being struck by lightning in a freak accident that occurred during a powerful storm. Colton Gauge Honeycutt was shot Saturday evening while standing atop a deer stand in Wheldon, the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office reported.
Authorities rushed to the scene at around 20.30 local time after reports emerged that an injured person needed assistance in remote woodland. Officers found Honeycutt seriously injured inside the high stand that deer hunters use to get a better view of the surrounding area. While it was determined that the young man died at the scene, an investigation was launched into his tragic death.
Family and friends expressed their shock and sadness at his untimely death on social media.
His cousin Kaylee Trichell described him as someone who was “always there for people with open arms, no matter what.”
“Many of you may know Colton for his big heart, passion for baseball, hunting and great personality,” Trichell wrote on Facebook.
“He always knew how to make people laugh and more than that, Colton was always there for people with open arms no matter what. Colton always had a big smile on his face and was a very happy person.”
A member of the family, Casey Honeycutt, posted a photo of what appeared to be the young man driving and wrote: “Podnuh, I’ll be riding shotgun until I see you again. Love you Colton Gauge!”
In an official statement, the Sheriff’s Office called the teen’s death “an unimaginable loss” and said its thoughts and prayers are with his family.
John Jensenius, a lightning safety expert with the National Lightning Safety Council, told the Miami Herald that her death was the twentieth death caused by lightning in the United States this year and the first in Louisiana.
“Since 2006, there have been a total of 8 hunting-related lightning deaths, 5 of which occurred in the last two months,” he added.
Lightning typically has 300 million volts and about 30,000 amps passing through it, according to the National Weather Service.
“In comparison, the current in the home is 120 Volts and 15 Amps,” the agency added.
