A visitor from France died Monday after he and a traveling companion became stranded on a remote road in Death Valley National Park, officials announced Friday.
Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, and his travel companion, also of France, were traveling on West Side Road when their vehicle became stuck in mud near Queen of Sheba Mine Road. With no other vehicles in the area, the men began walking across the salt flats toward Badwater Road to seek assistance. Temperatures reached 116 degrees that day, the release said.
After about 1.3 miles, the man was unable to continue. His companion continued toward Badwater Road, where he eventually received assistance from a passing motorist and reported the incident at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center shortly after 2 p.m.
National Park Service rangers and an Inyo County deputy began a search and rescue operation about 2:13 p.m. A California Highway Patrol helicopter joined the search and found the man that afternoon, about 1½ miles from Badwater Road.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Inyo County coroner will determine the cause and manner of death.
“Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the visitor who died,” Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in the release. “This is a heartbreaking 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. We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the search, and our thoughts are with his loved ones.”
Death Valley National Park is about 125 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Contact Tony Garcia at tgarcia@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307. Follow @TonyGLVNews on X.
