FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Two hikers were rescued from the peak of a mountain in northern Arizona after being struck by lightning on Tuesday.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the rescue, saying the hikers were saved from the summit of Humphreys Peak. 

On Tuesday, the sheriff’s deputies received a call from two male hikers who told officers they had been struck by lightning.

Surprisingly, the two stranded hikers didn’t know each other and were from Flagstaff and Canada.

They were taking photos while at the summit of the mountain when they were hit by lightning, the sheriff’s office confirmed. 

Search-and-rescue teams were immediately deployed to the trailhead.

Officials state they requested aircraft support but were denied due to severe weather, including lightning, hail, and heavy rain.

According to the sheriff’s office, rescue teams used two UTV vehicles to reach the victims before completing the rest of the rescue on foot.

“He reported that the other injured hiker had been unable to continue and had stopped near the saddle between Humphreys and Agassiz Peaks, roughly 0.7 miles farther up the trail at 11,800 feet,” read a press release from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders had to use a litter carry-out to extract the second victim since he was unable to walk due to the steep terrain and his physical condition. 

Both hikers were successfully taken to the Incident Command Post in the area, where an ambulance then drove them both to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment and observation.

According to the National Weather Service, lightning kills about 20 people in the U.S. each year, and hundreds more are severely injured.

Lightning strikes occur about 25 million times a year in the U.S.

PHOENIX – Lightning prompts rescue efforts on northern Arizona mountain; accidental shooting leads to death of Arizona man; and more – here’s a look at some of your top stories on FOX10Phoenix.com for Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

1. Rescue efforts on northern Arizona mountain

What we know:

Officials with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office say one person was struck by lightning on Humphrey’s Peak, which is located north of Flagstaff, earlier today.

What we don’t know:

Officials say a second person may have been struck by lightning, and crews are working to get up the mountain to see if that is the case.

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2. 3 hospitalized following East Valley shooting

What we know:

Three people are in the hospital following a triple shooting late last night.

Big picture view:

Mesa Police say officers responded to the scene, which is located near Lindsay Road and University Drive, after someone reported seeing someone running after hearing gunshots in the area. 

Read More

3. Arizona man dies after gun incident

What we know:

An investigation is underway following an accidental shooting that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old man.

Dig deeper:

The incident, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, happened on Oct. 13 at a campground. The victim has been identified as Donald Anthony Stickrath.

Read More

4. Violent store attack caught on camera

What we know:

The Glendale Police Department released a video of a man who it says committed a violent attack at a store and then stole money from the registers.

What’s next:

The suspect, identified as Gilbert Lara, is accused of kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Read More

5. Taking a look at Arizona’s real estate market

What we know:

Experts are weighing on whether it is currently the right time to buy real estate in the Grand Canyon State.

By the numbers:

It has been a rough three years for Arizona real estate. Prices are down nearly seven to eight percent since the peak in July 2022. 

Read More

A look at your weather for tomorrow 

Get the Full Forecast

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — As Arizona faces a growing shortage of OB-GYNs, a new federal policy could make it even harder for women to access care across the state.

Women’s health provider MomDoc, which operates clinics throughout Arizona, says it may now be forced to pay up to $100,000 per doctor to keep some of its physicians.

The change stems from new guidance under the Trump administration affecting the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers, including doctors in specialty occupations.

Under the revised policy, healthcare providers must now pay a substantial fee to continue sponsoring foreign-trained physicians. “It will impact access to care in Arizona and in other states that are barely making it today,” said Nick Goodman, CEO of MomDoc.

Currently in Arizona, fewer than 400 OB-GYNs deliver approximately 78,000 babies annually. According to Goodman, a major reason for the shortage is a decades-old freeze on funding for medical residency programs, which has prevented the training of enough new OB-GYNs in the U.S.

To fill the gap, MomDoc and other healthcare providers rely heavily on international doctors. Goodman says roughly 75% of their applicants are H-1B visa holders.

“Healthcare is already a very low-margin business,” Goodman said. “Adding a $100,000 fee makes it go from barely profitable to unprofitable.”

Experts warn the policy could further limit access to care, especially in rural or underserved areas where OB-GYN shortages are already severe.

However, there may be some relief. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently clarified that the fee does not apply to individuals who are already in the U.S. and are changing their visa status. Such as medical residents transitioning to full-time positions, as long as they have received USCIS approval.

In the meantime, clinics like MomDoc are pursuing fee exemptions, hoping the new rule won’t apply to their current physicians. But Goodman warns that unless the policy is revised or rescinded, it could have lasting consequences.

“When you’re talking about the number of OB-GYN’s practicing in the state going down, which is already happening prior to this fee, it makes it harder and harder for women in Arizona,” he said.

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