Posted by MondoHebe [198.81.26.45 - cache-ntc-ab08.proxy.aol.com] on 13 May 2004 at 21.48.07 ZuluTime:

Olathe pastor, 34, killed by lightning strike
     By Ann Depperschmidt
     Special to The Denver Post

A 34-year-old pastor from Olathe died from a lightning strike Wednesday.

Jose Rodriguez was doing yard work at a friend's house about 8 miles southwest of Montrose when he was hit about noon, Montrose County coroner Mark Young said.

Rodriguez has a wife and four children, ranging in age from 6 to 15, Young said.

His friend came home around 3 p.m. and found him dead in the yard.

An autopsy will be performed this morning, but Young said it was pretty clear Rodriguez had died from lightning.

Severe weather continued to threaten the rest of the state Wednesday.

A tornado was spotted 5 miles southwest of Cheyenne Wells around 6:15 p.m.

The area was put under a tornado warning until 7:15 p.m.

In the Denver area, snow fell.