Colorado officials announced on Monday that two hikers who were found dead on Thursday were killed by lightning.
Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin informed The Colorado Sun that Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both 25, were discovered beneath a tree with “two or three” minor burns. While Martin couldn’t determine the exact time of death, he believed the two died instantly.
Regarding the burns, Martin compared the men’s injuries to “tak[ing] a match and stick[ing] it on your arm.”
Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther mentioned to The Colorado Sun that Stasko and Porter were in camouflage attire and found near each other. They had one small day pack between them, and one carried a crossbow, Crowther noted.
The last sighting of Stasko and Porter was on September 11, prior to deputies finding their vehicle near the Rio de los Pinos Trailhead, which contained their backpacks and camping gear.
According to KUSA, GPS information from a Garmin InReach satellite communication device showed that the two hunters remained at a campsite for three days until September 11, before moving south toward the trailhead where their car was parked. They seemingly spent the night in their vehicle before setting out again.
KUSA also reported that a severe storm impacted the area on September 12, causing temperatures to drop into the 20s. The storm ended on September 14, just a day before Porter was due to fly back to North Carolina and Stasko to Utah.
The men’s bodies were located two miles from the trailhead. The Colorado Sun reported that there was no evidence of foul play.
[Feature Photo: GoFundMe]
