Orange County man dies in Death Valley after running out of gas

A Huntington Seashore man was discovered useless Tuesday in Dying Valley Nationwide Park after it seems he ran out of fuel and tried strolling for help throughout a harmful warmth wave, in line with Nationwide Park Service officers.

David Kelleher, 67, was discovered about 30 ft off a freeway within the park and fewer than three miles from his parked automobile, in line with a press release from the park service. Officers discovered a crumpled observe inside his automobile that learn, “Out of fuel.”

A park ranger first encountered Kelleher on Might 30 — about two weeks earlier than he was discovered useless — on Dantes View Street, when Kelleher talked about he was low on fuel, the assertion mentioned. Kelleher was then cited for off-road driving.

9 days after that interplay, a park ranger observed Kelleher’s automobile by itself within the lot of one of many park’s hottest viewpoints, Zabriskie Level, the park service reported.

On June 11 — two days later, throughout a warmth wave that spiked temperatures to 123 levels — the identical ranger acknowledged Kelleher’s automobile once more alone within the lot, the assertion mentioned. Rangers decided the automobile was registered to Kelleher, however he had not been reported lacking.

Rangers started an investigation, searching for Kelleher on trails round Zabriskie Level, although the search was restricted due to the new climate, the park service mentioned.

Kelleher was not discovered close to or alongside these searched trails, however three days later by park guests about 30 ft from Freeway 190, “obscured by terrain and a mesquite tree,” the assertion mentioned.

He was about 2½ miles north of his automobile within the route of Furnace Creek, the park’s major village with sources that embrace a fuel station, the assertion mentioned.

That is the second demise at Dying Valley this summer time: 69-year-old John McCarry, of Lengthy Seashore, was discovered useless June 1.

The seek for one other man, Peter Harootunian, stays ongoing, after park workers discovered his deserted automobile in late Might at a Dying Valley campground.

Park rangers advocate individuals wait by their automobiles for assist in excessive warmth, somewhat than trying to stroll for help.