Lightning strikes gas rig workers

ATWOOD -- Two natural gas drilling rig workers were admitted to the Rawlins County Health Center hospital in Atwood Sunday night after lightning struck their rig erected in the northwest corner of Rawlins County.

A hospital spokesperson said this morning that the men were treated, held overnight for observation and released Monday; she could not release information on the type or extent of the men's injuries. McDonald Police Chief Bruce Nickel said injuries to the two men did not appear to be life-threatening.

A spokesperson for Advanced Drilling Technologies (ADT) of Yuma, Colo., which owns and operates the rig, declined to identify the workers. Lightning struck the rig about 10:30 p.m., Nickel said, and ambulances from Bird City and McDonald were dispatched. Nickel said there were five men on the rig, and three were "jolted" when lightning hit the rig.

The third man declined treatment or transport to the hospital, a Rawlins County Square Deal news story indicates.

It is believed the workers are from Kansas and Colorado.