Durango Mountain Biker Killed By Lightning Near Lizard Head

Lightning struck and killed a 24-year-old Durango man around noon on Sunday while he was mountain-biking near the Lizard Head Wilderness Area south of Telluride. The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office said in a release that John Daniel Huisjen was biking with his girlfriend on the East Fork Trail when a thunderstorm moved in. The couple and other cyclists sought shelter below tree line but Huisjen was hit. An off-duty Telluride EMT started CPR, but life-saving attempts proved unsuccessful. Huisjen’s girlfriend was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.