“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous,” said Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A French tourist, Pierre Michel Formosa, died after his vehicle got stuck in the mud while traveling on a remote road in Death Valley National Park
- While his companion went to find help, park rangers located Formosa approximately 1.5 miles from Badwater Road, and he was pronounced dead at the scene
- Temperatures reached 116 degrees on the day of the incident
A French tourist died after his vehicle became stuck in the mud, leaving him stranded in California’s Death Valley National Park.
On Monday, Aug. 17, Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, was traveling with a companion near Queen of Sheba Nine Road when their vehicle suddenly got stuck on the remote road, according to a press release shared by the National Park Service (NPS).
With no other vehicles in the area, the two men began making their way toward Badwater Road to find help. However, after walking 1.3 miles in the heat, the tourist could not continue. Temperatures reached 116 degrees that day.
Steady drought and record summer heat make the below-sea-level basin a land of extremes, according to the NPS.
Eventually, the tourist’s companion reached the Furnace Creek Visitor Center shortly after 2 p.m. local time, and a search and rescue operation was launched. A California Highway Patrol helicopter joined NPS rangers in the search for the tourist.
Later that afternoon, Formosa was found approximately 1.5 miles from Badwater Road and was pronounced dead at the scene, per the NPS. The Inyo County Coroner’s Office will conduct an investigation to determine his exact cause and manner of death.
Credit: Getty
“Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the visitor who died,” Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in a press release. “This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous.”
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“Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience,” he continued. “We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the search, and our thoughts are with his loved ones.”
Following the incident, the NPS encouraged all visitors to prepare for extreme heat and limited access to cell service before visiting the national park.
Tourists can do this by planning their route in advance, checking weather conditions, telling someone their plans, carrying ample water and supplies, matching their vehicle to the road, bringing a way to call for help, and staying on paved roads.
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