Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
A quiet evening outdoors turned tragic for a Louisiana teenager when a sudden storm rolled in.
Authorities say 17-year-old Colton Gauge Honeycutt was struck by lightning on Saturday evening while standing on a deer stand in Wheldon, Louisiana.
The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the fatal strike occurred during a powerful storm sweeping through the area.
According to several news outlets, including ABC News, emergency teams were called around 8:30pm after reports of an injured person in a remote woodland area.
When officers arrived, they found the teenager unresponsive inside the elevated deer stand used by hunters to get a clearer view of the terrain.
Honeycutt was pronounced dead at the scene, and an investigation has since been launched.
Community in grief
The shock of Honeycutt’s sudden death spread quickly through the local community and across social media. Family and friends shared messages of heartbreak and memories of a boy they described as kind, joyful, and full of life.
His cousin, Kaylee Trichell, wrote that he “was always there for people with arms open wide no matter what.” She remembered him for his “big heart, his passion for baseball, hunting, and his amazing personality.”
Another family member, Casey Honeycutt, shared a photo of Colton behind the wheel of a car, writing, “Until I see you again podnuh, I’ll be riding shotgun. I love you Colton Gauge!”
Official response
The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a statement calling the teenager’s death “an unimaginable loss,” adding that their thoughts and prayers were with the family.
Experts say this tragic case underscores how dangerous lightning can be, especially during outdoor activities. John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council, told the Miami Herald that Honeycutt’s death was the twentieth lightning fatality in the US this year but the first in Louisiana.
“Since 2006, there have now been a total of 8 lightning fatalities linked to hunting, 5 of which have occurred in the last two months,” Jensenius said.
According to the National Weather Service, a typical lightning bolt carries about 300 million volts and 30,000 amps of electricity. In comparison, household current is just 120 volts and 15 amps—showing the devastating force behind a single strike.
The tragedy has left friends and family grappling with loss but also urging others to take storm warnings seriously when outdoors.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
