Lightning Kills Rancher, Over 30 Cows

A lightning strike killed a rancher and more than 30 of his cattle Sunday afternoon in northern Colorado, according to multiple reports.

Mike Morgan, 51, was tossing hay off the back of his trailer to his herd of cattle at about 2 p.m. in Rand when the lightning bolt struck him and about 100 of his cows and calves standing around the trailer, the Colorado Sun reported.

Neither Morgan nor thirty-two of his cattle survived the strike, the outlet reported, citing local coroner George Crocket.

“As best I can tell, it hit him on the trailer. The cattle were bunched up around the trailer and it hit them all,” Crocket reportedly said.

The incident occurred just after Morgan, his wife, and his father-in-law finished branding their calves with assistance from neighbors and friends during a local spring event known as branding day, according to the outlet. (Read more from “Lightning Kills Rancher, Over 30 Cows” HERE)

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