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Body of retired marine captain, 67, is found in Death Valley National Park after his car ran out of gas and he walked two miles in 123F heat, leaving behind crumpled note
- The body of a retired marine has been found in Death Valley with a note in his car
- Park visitors found the body of David Kelleher, 67, only 30 feet from a highway
- Temperatures went up to 123°F in California’s Death Valley over the weekend
David Kelleher — a former Marine Corps captain — was found dead only 30 feet from an obscured highway on June 14
The body of a retired marine has been found in Death Valley with a note on his car saying he ran ‘out of gas’.
Park visitors stumbled upon the body of 67-year-old David Kelleher — a former Marine Corps captain from Huntington Beach — only 30 feet from an obscured highway on June 14.
A heat wave caused record temperatures, of up to 123°F in California’s Death Valley.
Kelleher seemed to have walked two and half miles from his car from Zabriskie Point toward Furnace Creek after running out of gas.
On June 8, a park ranger noticed his car as the only one in the parking lot of Zabriskie Point.
A crumpled note inside Kelleher’s vehicle said: ‘Out of gas’.
Park rangers began an investigation on June 11, learning it was assigned to Kelleher, who had not been reported missing.
A records search also showed that a park ranger had cited Kelleher for off-road driving on May 30.
The search focused on the Golden Canyon and Badlands Trails, away from where the body was later found, with the National Park Service saying the heat impeded the search.
Park rangers say in extreme heat, people should wait at a broken vehicle, rather than attempting to walk for assistance.
The body of a retired marine has been found in Death Valley with a note on his car saying he ran ‘out of gas’. Park visitors stumbled upon the body of 67-year-old David Kelleher — a former Marine Corps captain from Huntington Beach — only 30 feet from an obscured highway on June 14. His car was found in a parking lot in Death Valley
Kelleher parked his car in the parking lot of Zabriskie Point in Death Valley before attempting to walk to Furnace Creek as temperatures reached 123F
‘The National Park Service encourages park visitors to stay safe in the summer by not hiking at low elevations after 10am, staying within a short walk of air conditioning, drinking plenty of water, and eating salty snacks,’ said the service.
The National Park Service, US Navy VX-31 helicopter, Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, and Inyo County Coroner’s Office responded to the incident.
A recent heat wave caused record temperatures, of up to 123°F in California’s Death Valley
Kelleher is the park’s second fatality this month. John McCarry, 69, of Long Beach, was found dead in Panamint Valley on June 1.
A search also began on May 23 for Peter Harootunian, whose vehicle was found abandoned by National Park Service staff in Emigrant Campground.
Harootunian has not yet been found.
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