French Tourist Dies in Death Valley National Park After Vehicle Stuck in Mud

A 68-year-old French tourist died in California’s Death Valley National Park after his vehicle became stuck on a remote road, leaving him stranded in temperatures that reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7°C). According to the US National Park Service, Pierre Michel Formosa and a travelling companion were driving along West Side Road near Queen of Sheba Mine Road on August 17 when their vehicle became stuck in mud, the NPS said. With no other vehicles nearby, the two men began walking towards Badwater Road to seek help. After covering about 1.3 miles, Formosa was unable to continue, while his companion carried on alone. The companion eventually reached the Furnace Creek Visitor Center shortly after 2 pm and reported the incident, prompting a search-and-rescue operation. NPS rangers and a California highway patrol helicopter joined the search. Formosa was later found about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road and was pronounced dead at the scene, the NPS said. The Inyo County coroner’s office will investigate to determine the exact cause and manner of death. Death Valley National Park superintendent Mike Reynolds offered condolences to Formosa’s family and friends. “This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience,” he added. The NPS said the park’s below-sea-level basin is known for extreme conditions, with drought and record summer heat adding to the risks faced by visitors.