The man killed by lightning north of Red Rocks Park on Friday has been identified as 24-year-old Lucas “Luke” Simmons.
Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said Simmons was a Denver resident.
Simmons was killed about three-quarters of a mile from the parking lot at Matthews/
Winter Park in Jefferson County as a slow-moving thunderstorm raked the area with heavy rains and lightning.
Simmons, dressed in shorts and running shoes, was believed to have been jogging at the time.
The park is along Colorado 93 between Red Rocks Park and Interstate 70, and its trails are popular with joggers and mountain bikers.
A group of mountain bikers found Simmons lying near a trail, unconscious and not breathing.
Kelley said they administered CPR but weren’t able to revive him. Burns on his body indicated he was hit by lightning, she said.
Acquaintances in Iowa confirmed Simmons’ death and said that his family, from West Des Moines, is currently in Denver.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
