Tourist dies in Death Valley National Park on 113-degree day after vehicle gets stuck

INYO COUNTY, Calif. —

A tourist died in Death Valley National Park while attempting to walk across one of the hottest places on Earth.

On Aug. 17, Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, and a travel partner were driving near the Queen of Sheba Mine when their vehicle became trapped in the mud, National Park officials said.

The two men left their vehicle and began walking across the salt flats toward Badwater Road in an attempt to get help. Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest places on the planet in summer, with temperatures hitting 130 degrees. On Monday, the high was 113, officials said.

A little over a mile into the walk, Formosa could no longer continue. His companion left him there and continued walking, making it close enough to Badwater Road to flag down a passing driver. The man was taken to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, where authorities were alerted that Formosa was missing.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter dispatched to help with the search located Formosa about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road. He was declared deceased at the scene.

“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous,” Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in a statement. “Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.”

Death Valley officials strongly discourage hiking in the park after 10 a.m. in the summer. Visitors should bring at least one gallon of water per person per day, plus more for vehicle emergencies. If your car breaks down, officials recommend people stay with the vehicle until help arrives. Due to the “vast, remote terrain where cell service is limited or nonexistent,” bringing a satellite device may be advisable.

The Inyo County coroner’s office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of Formosa’s death.