U.S. Navy Helicopter Rescues Two Motorcyclists Trapped in Death Valley National Park
Charges are now pending after two men drove down a closed roadway in Death Valley National Park and required a rescue. Multiple sections of the park remain closed after Hurricane Hilary brought widespread flooding that heavily damaged Death Valley. So, Park Rangers want to remind visitors to follow the rules for safety.
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According to park officials, the two men went around a locked gate, concrete barriers and a closure sign to drive motorcycles on Titus Canyon Road. The route is a popular scenic drive with 27 miles of views, the Leadfield ghost town, petroglyphs, and more. Right now, however, it’s closed for everyone’s safety.
The two men told National Park Service officials that they were following an app that showed the route was open. After driving down the road, one of the men crashed and broke his collarbone. The two used a satellite phone to call 911.
When Park Rangers determined it would take too long to drive the road, they called in a U.S. Navy helicopter that rescued the pair and brought them to a hospital.
Park officials want to remind everyone that closures in Death Valley are listed online. There are also physical signs up in the park.
Recent Repairs to Death Valley Roads
Flooding shut down the park in August of this year, which didn’t reopen until last month.
The most recent repair updates include the return of roadside camping and backpacking along Echo Canyon Road, Hole in the Wall Road, Cottonwood Canyon Road, Marble Canyon Road, and Greenwater Valley Road. All of these locations require a camping permit that is available for free at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
The National Park Service and contractors continue to use bulldozers around the park to level roads, and they want to remind visitors to take their time driving through the park.
