thought occurs to you
thought strikes you
thought comes to you

As he was going out of the room a thought struck her.

A thought struck him as he turned from the window.

I was on my way out when another thought struck me.

He started for the door, then turned back as a new thought struck him.

A thought struck me hard: Could we be in love?

I was about to leave when a thought struck me.

I had to change that question when another thought struck me.

She had almost reached the door when a thought struck her.

He turned back, as if a thought had just struck him.

The thought struck her with such force she had to sit down on the bed.