French tourist dies after car gets stuck on remote Death Valley road

A 68-year-old French tourist died on Aug. 17 after his car became stuck in mud on West Side Road in Death Valley National Park and he was unable to complete a 1.3-mile trek for assistance. The visitor and a companion attempted to walk across the salt flats toward Badwater Road, but the heat, which reached 116°F that day, forced the tourist to stop. His companion reached Badwater Road, flagged a passing motorist and reported the incident at Furnace Creek Visitor Center around 2 p.m. local time.

Park rangers and an Inyo County deputy launched a search and rescue operation. A California Highway Patrol helicopter located the tourist about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road, where he was pronounced dead at the scene. A coroner will determine the cause and manner of death.

"Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the visitor who died," said Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds. "This is a reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous. Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience."

The incident adds to a series of heat-related fatalities in the park this summer, including a motorcyclist who died of heat exposure in July and a hiker who died after a vehicle accident in August. The National Park Service advises visitors to carry at least one gallon of water per person per day, keep extra water for vehicle emergencies, and remain with a stuck vehicle rather than walking in open terrain.