Pierre Michel Formosa, a 68-year-old French tourist, died in Death Valley after his car became stuck in mud on West Side Road and he was unable to keep walking in 116F heat. Another French man traveling with him reached help after Formosa could no longer continue.
The companion reported the situation at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center shortly after 2pm, and park rangers with an Inyo county sheriff’s deputy began a search and rescue operation at about 2.15pm. A California highway patrol helicopter later found Formosa that afternoon about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
West Side Road and Badwater Road
The pair had been traveling along Death Valley national park’s remote West Side Road near Queen of Sheba Mine Road when their vehicle became stuck in mud. They walked across the salt flats toward Badwater Road in search of help, and Formosa had gone roughly 1.3 miles before he could not go any farther.
Mike Reynolds, the Death Valley national park superintendent, said, “Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the visitor who died,” and added, “This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous.” He also said, “Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.”
Death Valley conditions
The National Park Service says cell service in Death Valley is limited or unavailable and emergency assistance can be hours away. It advises visitors to plan routes in advance, check road and weather conditions before setting out, carry at least one gallon of water per person per day, and bring extra supplies for vehicle emergencies.
The park also says drivers should make sure a vehicle suits the road, since many backcountry routes require high clearance or four-wheel drive. It recommends carrying a satellite communicator or emergency beacon, staying with a disabled vehicle, and sticking to paved roads while avoiding hikes at lower elevations during extreme heat.
Formosa’s death will now go to the Inyo county coroner, who will determine the cause and manner of death. In a park where a broken vehicle can become a long walk in lethal heat, the practical step is simple: stay with the car, carry water, and treat remote roads as a day-long commitment.
