Coconino County sheriff’s detectives have identified the two people who were killed by a lightning strike Tuesday in northern Arizona as Aram Kawewong and Ratchaya Tantranon.
The two were married, both 20 years old and from Chiang-Mai, Thailand, according to a statement. The Thailand Embassy told detectives that their families were notified.
The couple were struck and killed by a single bolt of lightning while standing at the LeFevre Scenic Overlook on Arizona 89. The location is about 8 miles north of Jacobs Lake. The lightning struck about 3 p.m., and the couple were pronounced dead at the scene.
A young boy was also hit by the same bolt of lightning, but he is expected to be OK, authorities said.
Coconino County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Gerry Blair said it is not rare that lightning strikes someone during the summer.
“It is not uncommon in the monsoon season,” Blair has said.
However, Blair said it was uncommon that one strike kills two people and injures another. The Sheriff’s Office advises people to avoid high ground and open spaces during a thunderstorm.