Current:Home > BackLost Death Valley visitors trek across salt flat after car gets stuck: "It could have cost their lives"-LoTradeCoin
Lost Death Valley visitors trek across salt flat after car gets stuck: "It could have cost their lives"
View Date:2024-12-23 21:04:30
Two men who got lost in Death Valley National Park and walked for miles to find help could be facing charges and fines for allegedly driving across a salt flat, officials said Tuesday.
Though using GPS, the two got lost on July 4 after taking a wrong turn onto a gravel road, officials said. There is no cell service in most of the park, and the men spent three hours driving back and forth on the road. Worried about running out of gas, they decided to drive directly across the salt flat to reach Badwater Road, the main paved road in the southern end of the park, according to the park service.
The car got stuck in the mud after less than a mile, officials said.
There is no cell service in most of the park, so, unable to call for help, the men walked about a mile across the salt flat to Badwater Road, then another 12 miles north. Around 3 a.m., the men split up, with one of them walking another 6 miles north.
He was picked up by other visitors around 8 a.m. and taken to Furnace Creek, where he was able to call for help.
The good Samaritans who picked up the first man drove back to get the second man, who was suffering from heat illness. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The lowest temperature that evening was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the park service said.
"Driving off-road is illegal in Death Valley National Park," the National Park Service said. "In this case, it could have cost their lives."
The car remained stuck in the salt flat for three weeks until a towing company was able to remove it on July 27, according to the National Park Service. The skid steer used to remove the car was carefully driven in the same tracks the car had created to minimize additional damage to the park, as off-roading can harm plants and animals. Driving on the salt flats often leaves tracks that can scar the desert for decades.
"Death Valley is an awe-inspiring place that demands our utmost respect and preparedness," Death Valley Superintendent Mike Reynolds said. "We urge visitors to exercise caution and adhere to park rules. Don't drive off established roads; this damages the environment and can turn deadly."
The park visitors who got lost were issued a mandatory court appearance for illegal off-road driving and the resulting damage to the park.
The National Park Service urged visitors to prepare before visiting Death Valley National Park. Officials noted that GPS navigation in the area can be unreliable. Visitors should be sure to bring an up-to-date road map.
Heat-related deaths have been reported at Death Valley this summer. Tourists have flocked to the park this summer to experience the extreme heat.
- In:
- Death Valley National Park
Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBS News.
TwitterveryGood! (3289)
Related
- See Leonardo DiCaprio's Transformation From '90s Heartthrob to Esteemed Oscar Winner
- With ugly start, the Houston Astros' AL dynasty is in danger. But they know 'how to fight back'
- Walz appointments give the Minnesota Supreme Court its first female majority in decades
- Oklahoma City Thunder fan Jaylen O’Conner wins $20,000 with halftime halfcourt shot
- Alexandra Daddario Shares Candid Photo of Her Postpartum Body 6 Days After Giving Birth
- Top Chef Alum Eric Adjepong Reveals the One Kitchen Item That Pays for Itself
- Kevin Costner 'loved' John Mulaney's 'Field of Dreams' Oscars bit: 'He was a genius'
- Qschaincoin: What Is a Crypto Wallet?
- About Charles Hanover
- 2024 NFL Draft selections: Teams with least amount of picks in this year's draft
Ranking
- Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress
- Can Bitcoin really make you a millionaire?
- Biden signs bill reauthorizing contentious FISA surveillance program
- 'Sasquatch Sunset' spoilers! Bigfoot movie makers explain the super-weird film's ending
- Biden EPA to charge first-ever ‘methane fee’ for drilling waste by oil and gas companies
- Want to live near your state's top schools? Prepare to pay $300,000 more for your house.
- Vice President Harris to reveal final rules mandating minimum standards for nursing home staffing
- What fruits are in season right now? Find these spring picks at a farmer's market near you
Recommendation
-
What does the top five look like and other questions facing the College Football Playoff committee
-
Biden leans on young voters to flip North Carolina
-
Andrew Jarecki on new 'Jinx,' Durst aides: 'Everybody was sort of in love with Bob'
-
Christina Hendricks Marries George Bianchini in New Orleans Wedding
-
Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
-
Rep. Tom Cole says the reservoir of goodwill is enormous for House Speaker amid effort to oust him
-
Two stabbed, man slammed with a bottle in Brooklyn party boat melee; suspects sought
-
'Sasquatch Sunset' spoilers! Bigfoot movie makers explain the super-weird film's ending