While hiking a line in Wyoming a few years back with Kevin Jacobson, we happened upon this freshly hit pole. This is what happens when lightning makes a direct hit on a pole. You can see the debris field in the foreground, consisting of the splintered remnants of the upper portion of the pole and the crossarm.

For a second view from a different angle, better showing the exploded pole top and untouched poles in the background [id=367870012]