death valley tourist dies

He lived to be outdoors, even in extremes like Death Valley. He died doing what he loved

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Steve Curry lived for adventure. The 71-year-old Sunland resident loved nothing more than to hike, climb and spend time outdoors — so much so that he sometimes set up a tent in his own backyard.

But on Tuesday, Curry collapsed after completing a hike in Death Valley, one of the hottest places on the planet, and died of what officials believe were heat-related causes.

“He went having accomplished something he wanted to do,” said Rima Evans Curry, his wife of 29 years. “He wanted to go to Death Valley. He wanted to do a hike.”

The temperature in the park Tuesday was unbearably hot, but Curry was intent on completing his round trip from Golden Canyon to Zabriskie Point, a scenic overview overlooking the sun-drenched moonscape.

Around 10 a.m., Curry stopped to rest under a metal sign, the only spot of shade at Zabriskie Point. He declined offers of assistance, determined to finish what he set out to do. It had taken him about two hours to reach Zabriskie Point — and the return hike would take longer — but he said he was mostly worried that he wasn’t keeping pace with younger people he had seen out walking.

“He had talked about Death Valley for at least a week or more,” his 76-year-old wife said. She told him she was worried about the temperature. “But once he got an idea like that ...” she trailed off.

Curry collapsed outside the restroom at Golden Canyon around 3:40 p.m., and a park visitor used a cellphone to call 911. Officials with the National Park Service and Inyo County Sheriff’s Office responded, but a medical helicopter was not able to respond because of the high temperature. Officials said hot air can be too thin for helicopters to get enough lift to get off the ground safely.

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Park rangers attempted CPR and used a defibrillator but were not able to save him. The Inyo County Coroner’s Office has not yet determined Curry’s cause of death, but park rangers suspect heat was a factor. The thermometer at the nearby Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center registered 121 degrees around the time of his death, but the actual temperature inside the canyon was likely much higher because of the radiant heat from the sun, officials said.

Friends and family remembered Curry as happy-go-lucky, with a winning smile and a great sense of humor. Born in San Diego on Aug. 28, 1951, he spent his youth in several states, including Arizona and New Jersey, because his father was in the military, his wife said.

He worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District and as an electrician before retiring about a decade ago.

After the Currys got married in 1994, he “got this bug” for the outdoors, his wife said. He bought camping gear, joined a rock climbing group and completed wilderness training courses. When he couldn’t travel out of town, he’d climb Mt. Lukens in Sunland-Tujunga just to get a taste of adventure.

“He was always happiest when he could be out there sleeping under the stars,” she said. “That was his joy.”

Though Evans Curry didn’t love the outdoors as much as her husband, she accompanied him on a few camping trips in Three Rivers, Panamint City and the Four Jeffrey Campground in Inyo National Forest.

Man found dead in his car in Death Valley National Park, an apparent heat victim

A man was found dead in his car from apparent heat-related illness Monday in Death Valley National Park, according to authorities said.

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He didn’t tell her he was heading to Death Valley on Monday, and she was expecting him back that night.

When he didn’t return, “I thought, ‘That rascal. He just took off because he knows it’s hard for me to let him go,’” she said Thursday, fighting back tears.

“We were supposed to grow old together, sit on our rocking chairs on the porch.”

Curry’s death was the second officials have reported in the park this year. On the morning of July 3, a 65-year-old man was found dead in his car about 30 yards off the road from North Highway. The temperature the previous day had been 126 degrees, and park officials said the air conditioning in the man’s car wasn’t working.

Death Valley, which holds the world record for Earth’s highest temperature — 134 degrees — has been experiencing blistering conditions as a heat wave bakes the Southwest. The park has already recorded 29 days of temperatures in excess of 110 degrees this year.

The park service advises visitors against hiking after 10 a.m. during periods of extreme summer heat. Heat stroke can set in when the body’s core temperature rises above 104 degrees, and can lead to headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion, rapid heartbeat and unconsciousness, among other problems.

Children, the elderly and people who are pregnant are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, although anyone can be affected.

At Zabriskie Point on Tuesday morning, Curry said he was no stranger to hot weather, but he acknowledged that the climate in Death Valley was “a different sort of heat,” with its dryness and the way it warms everything it touches.

When asked why he was attempting the hike, the avid outdoorsman hardly paused before answering.

“Why do I do it?” he asked. “Why not?”

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Hayley Smith is an environment reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she covers the many ways climate change is reshaping life in California, including drought, floods, wildfires and deadly heat.

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Death Valley tourist dies walking for gas in extreme heat that hit 123 degrees

Officials say that the high temperatures hindered search for david kelleher, article bookmarked.

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A Death Valley National Park tourist died after walking for gas for his car in sweltering high temperatures that hit 123 degrees.

Park officials say that David Kelleher, 67, was found more than two miles from his vehicle but only 30ft from California Highway 190.

A ranger first noticed the car parked at Zabriskie Point, a popular spot to watch sunrise and sunset, on 8 June.

The same ranger then noticed that the car had not been moved three days later, and upon inspection found a note that read “Out of gas” inside it.

Officials say that the extreme temperatures limited search efforts for Mr Kelleher, who was from Huntington Beach, California.

The National Park Service says that he had been cited for off-road driving on 30 May and had told a ranger then that he was low on gas.

“Kelleher’s body was found by park visitors around 2pm on June 14. Kelleher was about 2.5 miles from their vehicle, but only about 30 feet from California Highway 190, obscured by terrain and a mesquite tree,” NPS said in a statement.

They advise visitors that during periods of extreme temperatures they should stay with their vehicle and wait for assistance.

It is not the first death in the park, which straddles California and Nevada, this month.

John McCarry, 69, of Long Beach, was found dead in Panamint Valley on 1 June. And in May, a vehicle belonging to Peter Harootunian was found abandoned in Emigrant Campground. He has not been found.

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Crashes and Disasters | Death Valley tourist found dead, apparently…

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Crashes and disasters | layoffs jolt bay area: golden gate fields, genentech, intel ax hundreds, crime and public safety, crashes and disasters, subscriber only, crashes and disasters | death valley tourist found dead, apparently from extreme heat.

A tourist was found dead Monday in his car in Death Valley National Park, and investigators believe he was overcome by heat.

The body was found around 10 a.m. by a National Park Service maintenance worker who went to check on a car that was about 30 yards off North Highway, the road to Scotty’s Castle.

The victim was a 65-year-old man from the San Diego area, a park news release said.

Tire tracks indicate the car ran along the road’s shoulder and the berm before veering onto the rocky desert flats. It didn’t crash but had two flat tires when it stopped.

“The initial investigation suggests that heat-related illness may have caused the driver to run off road,” the park report said.

Sunday’s high temperature was 126, and the overnight low was 98. The driver’s window was down, and the car’s air conditioning was found to be non-functional.

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Tourist dies at US Death Valley National Park amid extreme heat

LOS ANGELES – A tourist died on Tuesday afternoon at a trailhead in Death Valley National Park, located between the US states of California and Nevada, amid extreme heat, the authorities said on Wednesday.

The 71-year-old man from the Los Angeles area collapsed outside a restroom at Golden Canyon as temperatures in the area soared to 49 deg C, according to a news release from park officials.

Officials believe the man had likely just been hiking the popular trail. He was wearing a sun hat and hiking clothes, and carried a backpack, said the news release.

“This is possibly the second heat-related fatality in Death Valley this summer. A 65-year-old man died on July 3,” the news release added.

According to the US National Weather Service, Death Valley has experienced 28 days of temperatures in excess of 43 deg C in 2023.

Park officials warned that heatstroke sets in when the body’s core temperature rises to 40 deg C.

Officials have posted an extreme summer heat alert on the park’s officials website, warning that temperatures are expected to remain between 43 and 49 deg C.

It urged tourists to drink plenty of water and carry extra, and avoid hiking after 10am.

Death Valley is the lowest and driest place in the United States, and one of the hottest locations in the world at the height of summer.

The world’s highest air temperature of 56.7 deg C was recorded at Furnace Creek in the park on July 10, 1913, according to the US National Park Service. XINHUA

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Man dies in Death Valley as temperatures hit 121 degrees

By Kerry Breen

Updated on: July 20, 2023 / 8:57 PM EDT / CBS News

A tourist died while visiting Death Valley on Tuesday afternoon, and his death may have been related to heat, the National Park Service said , as temperatures that afternoon were 121 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The 71-year-old man was from the Los Angeles area. He collapsed outside the restroom at Golden Canyon, a popular hiking trail, according to the NPS. Other visitors of the California park noticed the man and called for help.

Members of the NPS and the local sheriff's office responded, but a medical transport helicopter was not able to respond because of the high temperatures. Life-saving measures, including CPR and the use of a defibrillator, were attempted but failed. 

While his cause of death has not yet been determined, the NPS said park rangers "suspect heat was a factor," considering the temperatures in the area. The official temperature at Furnace Creek, near where the man had been hiking, was 121 degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures inside the canyon would likely have been "much higher, due canyon walls radiating the sun's heat." 

Death Valley is typically one of the hottest places on Earth, thanks to its dry air, scant plant coverage, and rock features and formations that reflect heat back into the area. As a heat wave threatens the Southwest, sending temperatures in Arizona spiking and putting about one-third of Americans under a heat advisory, watch or warning, tourists have flocked to Furnace Creek , an unincorporated community in Death Valley that features a large outdoor thermometer tracking the temperature. 

CBS News has previously reported that tourists visiting the thermometer have engaged in dangerous activities, like wearing fur coats in the heat or going for runs in the area. According to the National Weather Service, Death Valley has reached over 110 degrees Fahrenheit on 28 days this year. 

This may be the second heat-related fatality in Death Valley this summer, the NPS said. 

A 65-year-old man died on July 3 and was found in his car, which was off-road and had two flat tires. Heat-related illness may have caused him to turn off the road, the NPS said. 

To stay safe while visiting the valley, the NPS recommends sightseeing short distances from air-conditioned vehicles or hiking on the park's cooler mountains. Anyone experiencing signs of heatstroke, including a throbbing headache, dizziness and light-headedness, a lack of sweat, and other symptoms should seek immediate medical help. 

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Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.

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Man found dead in Death Valley as temperatures soared to 121 degrees

Park officials believe heat was a factor in the 71-year-old’s death.

A 71-year-old man died at the Golden Valley trailhead in Death Valley National Park on Tuesday, potentially marking the second heat-related fatality in two weeks at the California site.

The man, identified as Steve Curry of Los Angeles, was believed to have just completed hiking the trail, according to a release from the National Park Service . Other park patrons found him unresponsive, at which point they contacted Inyo County police and the National Park Service for assistance.

The Park Service said a helicopter was unable to respond because of the high temperature. When park rangers arrived, they did CPR and used a defibrillator, but were not able to save Curry.

How bad is heat risk near you?

“The Inyo County Coroner’s Office has not yet determined the man’s cause of death. However, park rangers suspect heat was a factor. The official temperature at nearby Furnace Creek was 121°F around the time of his death. Actual temperatures inside Golden Canyon were likely much higher, due to canyon walls radiating the sun’s heat,” the NPS said in the release.

In 128-degree Death Valley, a man dressed as Darth Vader ran a mile

This death may be the third caused by hot weather at a national park this month, with a 65-year-old man dying at Death Valley and a 57-year-old woman dying at Grand Canyon National Park , both on July 3. The woman reportedly hiked eight miles through the secluded Tuweep portion of the Grand Canyon trail before collapsing. According to the NPS, the Grand Canyon can reach up to 120 degrees during heat advisories.

The man was found earlier this month near Death Valley in his vehicle, which officials believe had no functioning air conditioning, after it had driven off the shoulder of the road and into a nearby embankment. It was not clear what time he had lost consciousness, but officials say the temperature the day prior was 126 degrees and the low temperature overnight was 98 degrees. The temperatures on both July 3 and July 18 surpassed 110 degrees in their respective locations.

These deaths come in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave that has battered parts of the United States for weeks. The National Park Service advises potential patrons to be conscious of the times at which they hike and encourages hikers to avoid low-elevation trails between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on days when heat advisories are in place, and to do their sightseeing from an air-conditioned car.

Extreme heat is ruining vacations. Here's how to cope.

Hikers should “travel prepared to survive,” wearing a wide-brimmed hat and loose, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover the skin. Bring backpacks supplied with plenty of water and food, including electrolytes. Self-monitor for symptoms of heat stroke, which include “throbbing headache; dizziness and light-headedness; lack of sweating despite the heat; red, hot, and dry skin; muscle weakness or cramps; nausea and vomiting; rapid heartbeat (either strong or weak); rapid, shallow breathing; behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering; seizures; and unconsciousness,” according to the NPS. Once indoors or in vehicles, they should make sure to spend time in air-conditioned locations.

You can view National Park Service alerts, closures and advisories at the NPS website or on each park’s individual website.

More on extreme heat

Our warming climate: In the Eastern U.S., the record-breaking heat wave is reaching is peaking. July was Earth’s hottest month , and here’s where the worst, record-setting heat occurred . Use our tracker to see your city’s extreme heat risk . Take a look at what extreme heat does to the human body .

How to stay safe: It’s better to prepare for extreme heat before you’re in it. Here’s our guide to bracing for a heat wave , tips for staying cool even if you don’t have air conditioning , and what to know about animal safety during extreme heat . Traveling during a heat wave isn’t ideal, but here’s what to do if you are .

Understanding the science: Sprawling zones of high pressure called heat domes fuel heat waves. Here’s how they work . You can also read more about the link between weather disasters and climate change , and how leaders in the U.S. and Europe are responding to heat .

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‘Here for the heat’: Death Valley sizzles, but the tourism doesn’t stop

National park has seen remarkable temperatures this summer with some intentionally, and some accidentally, caught in the heatwave

Around every desolate curve of road in Death Valley national park, official signs warn of peril.

“Heat kills!” cautioned one flyer at popular Zabriskie Point, as tourists streamed by on Thursday afternoon to marvel at a dramatic vista beyond. A photo of a red tombstone completed the dire message: “Don’t become a Death Valley victim.”

Death Valley is hardly a stranger to elemental extremes and has long attracted those drawn to the edge. The park bills itself as the “hottest, driest and lowest” – the hottest place on Earth, the driest place in the United States and the lowest point in North America. Visitors make the trek there from around the world to experience its surreal, lunar-looking landscapes and dramatic temperature swings. A famously difficult ultramarathon, the Badwater 135, sees runners race across the cracked salt flat of the park each July.

But even by Death Valley standards, this has been a remarkable summer. The park, which set the world record for the hottest air temperature (a withering 134F, or 56.7C) more than a century ago, approached modern heat records this week. An excessive heat warning, involving daytime temperatures “well over” 120F and night-time averages still hovering around the triple digits, remains in effect until Sunday.

The grim weather warnings come at a critical time. Two people have died in Death Valley amid the recent heatwave, including a 71-year-old man who collapsed this Tuesday after hiking near Golden Canyon, where a sign reminded visitors that in a heat-related emergency, “rescue in time is not a guarantee”. Earlier this month, a 65-year-old was found dead in his car from “ apparent heat illness ”.

The temperature in Death Valley will also probably become even more intense in the era of climate crisis; nine of the park’s 10 hottest summers have been in the last 15 years, the visitor center reports. ​​“With global warming, such temperatures are becoming more and more likely to occur,” Randy Ceverny, of the World Meteorological Organization, told the Guardian this week .

Still, many Death Valley visitors have been undeterred by the blistering heat this month – and some are even choosing to visit for that exact reason.

This week, tourists congregated around a display thermometer in front of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, posing for photos as the temperature ticked from 123F to 124F. The impenetrable wall of desert heat, a shock to the system after being inside a chilled car, forced each group into the shelter of the visitor center after only a minute or two.

Paul Blum and his family, who were visiting the park from France, said they planned their trip months ago to take advantage of summer holidays. But the night before their drive to Death Valley from Las Vegas, Blum had a brief moment of hesitation.

“I thought, ‘Is it reasonable to drive through Death Valley with two kids?’” he said. “But it’s a new car, so I hope so. With an old car I wouldn’t try.”

Tourism heats up with temperatures

At Last Kind Words Saloon, one of the only watering holes in the national park’s central hub of Furnace Creek, the stiff air conditioning offers a reprieve from the sun. As the day’s heat rested around 120F on Thursday afternoon, visitors began to trickle in for steaks and cold drinks.

A server at the saloon, Alan California (“Alan from California,” he said, explaining the name displayed on his name tag), said that earlier this summer, business seemed to be slower.

“But since the heat has picked up drastically lately, we’ve actually gotten busier,” he said of the past week. “For some reason, people want to be out here for the heat.”

Alan, who stays in Furnace Creek for part of the week and commutes back to his home an hour away the rest of the time, said he makes sure to stay indoors during midday. “People just don’t know how the heat can affect you if you’re not used to it,” he said.

While it may seem ill-advised to experience the hottest place on Earth during the hottest season of the year, Abby Wines, a Death Valley spokesperson and park ranger, said that March, April, July and August are Death Valley’s busiest times, with roughly 100,000 visitors each month.

But those who choose to visit this time of year do so for several different reasons, she said. The first category of visitors is made up of tourists from other countries, like the Blum family from France, who are merely planning a summer vacation and wind up in Death Valley during a heatwave.

“They’ve planned their vacation months in advance, so they couldn’t say, ‘Oh, [the park] might break a heat record on this particular weekend, let’s go then,’” Wines said.

And then there are the heat-seekers.

“Some people do come intentionally when the news says, ‘Death Valley might break a record,’” she said. This past week, for instance, a 52-year-old man wearing a Darth Vader costume embarked on a one-mile run through the park, an almost annual feat that he saves for the hottest day of the year, at the hottest time of the day.

Although Wines said she wouldn’t tell visitors to stay away entirely, she warns tourists to “take the heat seriously” and take many precautions, such as staying close to a cool shelter and avoiding going out during the hottest part of the day.

“Rescue is impossible when it’s extremely hot,” she said. If a visitor chooses to hike far away from a trailhead and ends up collapsing, she added, that puts the park’s employees, who would need to hike after them, in danger. Rescue helicopters also can’t fly in extreme heat because of how it changes air density, as was the case with the 71-year-old hiker who died this week, officials said.

“A number one rule of safety,” Wines said of rescue missions, “is to make sure it’s safe enough before you put other people at risk.”

Braving the heat

Back at the visitor center, Zhebeau Beasley from Ohio landed more firmly in the category of visitor who booked their trip earlier and then ended up in a heatwave.

“People [told me], ‘Good luck out there man, it’s supposed to be record heat,’” he said. “It kind of caught us off guard the first day we stepped out into it.”

Certain activities, like hiking, are off the table for Beasley while he’s visiting the national park.

“Who in their right mind would hike this time of the year? Other than David Goggins, I don’t know who else would do it,” he said, referencing a runner who has completed the Badwater 135 several times.

And despite the near record-breaking temperatures, the national park buzzed with activity late into the day on Thursday. Families bought T-shirts and bottles of water at the visitor center and couples braved the heat long enough to get out of their cars at designated overlooks.

After all, for many people the trip was months, or years, in the making. Visitor Abdul Munifi said he and a handful of his family members had flown about 16 hours from the Arabian Peninsula to be there.

“Feels like home,” Munifi joked, looking out from Zabriskie Point, which required walking up a dauntingly steep path into the afternoon sun. Visible heat waves rippled the air. “I think we’re used to it.”

This article was amended on 24 July 2023 to correct the spelling of Abdul Munifi’s name.

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Man dies in Death Valley National Park in possible heat-related incident, officials say

A 71-year-old man died this week at a trailhead in Death Valley National Park in California in what officials say may have been a heat-related death.

The man, who has not been identified, collapsed Tuesday afternoon outside a restroom at Golden Canyon as temperatures soared to around 121 degrees, with actual temperatures inside Golden Canyon most likely much higher because canyon walls radiate the sun’s heat, the National Park Service said in a news release.

The man was wearing a sun hat and hiking clothes, and he had probably been hiking the popular trail, officials said.

Other park visitors noticed the man and called 911 at around 3:40 p.m., the park service said.

Park rangers responded minutes later, while an air helicopter could not be deployed because of the high temperature. Rescuers performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator but were not able to save the man.

A cause of death has yet to be determined. Rangers suspected the heat was a factor, the park service said.

It said visitors were encouraged to visit Death Valley safely in the summer by sightseeing short distances from their air-conditioned cars or hiking in the park's cooler mountains. Hiking at low elevations is also not recommended after 10 a.m., it said.

The agency noted that it was possibly the second heat-related death in Death Valley this summer, after a 65-year-old man died July 3.

Death Valley has experienced at least 28 days of temperatures over 110 degrees this year, the agency said, citing the National Weather Service.

"Heat stroke sets in when the body’s core temperature rises above 104 degrees," it said.

Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London. 

Arizona man dies, wife rescued in Death Valley National Park

A photo showing Alexander Lofgren (beck) and Emily Henkel (front) (Inyo Creek Sheriff’s Office)

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) - An Arizona tourist died and his wife was rescued on April 9 after their vehicle got two flat tires and they went missing in Death Valley National Park in California.

Alexander Lofgren, 32, and Emily Henkel, 27, were found on a steep ledge near Willow Creek in the desert park, but Lofgren was dead, according to a statement from the Inyo Creek Sheriff’s Office.

Henkel was flown to Lemoore Naval Air Station for treatment, and there was no immediate word on her condition.

The Tucson residents, described as experienced campers, failed to return Sunday from a camping trip and were reported missing Tuesday. 

Authorities searched hotels and major tourist attractions along a highway and checked Lofgren’s back-country itinerary.

On Wednesday, park staff found the couple’s missing Subaru. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a note in the car stated: "Two flat tires, headed to Mormon Point, have three days’ worth of water."

That proved to be "a crucial tip in directing search efforts," the Sheriff’s Office said.

On Thursday, the couple was spotted from the air, but crews couldn’t hoist them up and weren’t able to reach them in the remote area until shortly after 11:30 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

The cause of Lofgren’s death is under investigation.

"This has been a tremendously difficult operation in a very unforgiving geographic area of Inyo County, I sincerely hope for healing and recovery for all involved," Sheriff Jeff Hollowell said in the statement.

According to the verified Twitter page of Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema , Lofgren is a former intern.

"He had a heart of gold and worked so hard for Arizona and our country," read a portion of the tweet.

Death Valley, in the Mojave Desert in eastern California, is one of the hottest and driest places in the world. It had highs in the 90s this week.

The rugged park has claimed several lives over the years. In January, an experienced climber who was descending a canyon plunged to his death when he was caught in a rockslide.

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Tourist dies in Death Valley as temperatures soar above 120 degrees

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — A tourist has died while visiting Death Valley National Park amid blazing summer heat.

The National Park Service says the visitor was reported to be non-responsive at 6 p.m. Tuesday and she died before emergency responders arrived at the location south of Badwater. Her name wasn't released.

The cause of death is being investigated by Inyo County authorities, but the Park Service notes Death Valley has been having temperatures above 120 degrees.

It was the second death in three days in the Mojave Desert park, where two of the most common reasons for emergency responses are single-vehicle accidents and heat illnesses.

Summer visitors are urged to drink at least one gallon of water per day and watch for trouble signs including dizziness, nausea and headaches.

Tourist Dies in Death Valley Amid Scorching Summer Heat

By associated press • published august 30, 2019 • updated on august 30, 2019 at 10:11 pm.

A tourist has died while visiting Death Valley National Park amid blazing summer heat.

The National Park Service says the visitor was reported to be non-responsive at 6 p.m. Tuesday and she died before emergency responders arrived at the location south of Badwater. Her name wasn't released.

The cause of death is being investigated by Inyo County authorities, but the Park Service notes Death Valley has been having temperatures above 120 degrees.

It was the second death in three days in the Mojave Desert park, where two of the most common reasons for emergency responses are single-vehicle accidents and heat illnesses.

Summer visitors are urged to drink at least one gallon (4 liters) of water per day and watch for trouble signs including dizziness, nausea and headaches.

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21-year-old skier dies on berthoud pass after failed ski jump.

News News | Apr 10, 2024

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A 21-year-old male skier was involved in a skiing accident that resulted in his death at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, near Berthoud Pass. He was found unconscious and not breathing west of the pass summit along U.S. Highway 40, according to a news release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.

A bystander initiated CPR, but when emergency responders arrived on scene they determined that the man was dead. The Grand County Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to the scene.

According to a preliminary investigation, the man was attempting to perform a high-risk ski jump that involved him clearing the width of U.S. 40, but he lacked the necessary speed. He landed on the pavement of the road and was found wearing a helmet and other protective gear.

During the investigation, traffic was alternating while investigators worked. The Coroner’s Office has not yet revealed the victim’s identity or cause of death.

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A Czech tourist died after falling into the sea while apparently taking photographs of huge waves during a storm on the Canary Island of Tenerife, authorities said Thursday.

A Canary Island local government statement said the 53-year-old man died Wednesday afternoon in the town of Puerto de la Cruz. Rescue services retrieved the man from the sea but he died shortly afterwards.

Authorities had warned of possible flooding in coastal areas due to stormy seas around the island in the Atlantic, a popular vacation destination for many Europeans. The government had urged people to take precaution in dock or breakwater areas and to avoid coastal roads and nautical sports.

Tenerife officials said people from some 60 houses were evacuated Wednesday, adding that waves reached some five meters (16 feet) in several areas.

Four people from different countries died last month after falling into the sea during bad weather on mainland Spain.

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Woman wanted months after family member was killed in north Harris County home, deputies say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A shooting suspect remains on the run, accused of killing a family member months ago inside a home in north Harris County.

On April 2, Joikeira K. Keys was charged with murder for the death of 21-year-old Ashley Holmes, who was shot and killed on Feb. 8.

The Precinct 4 Counstable's Office said the shooting happened in the 22200 block of Doubletree Park Drive, a few streets away from Dekaney High School and Booker Elementary School.

Investigators said Keys and Holmes were arguing before the 25-year-old allegedly shot the 21-year-old and ran away.

Deputies arrived at the scene and found Holmes with the gunshot wound, and later confirmed she died from her injuries.

Investigators said the two women, a man and a 6-year-old girl were inside the home at the time of the shooting. The child was not hurt and is with family, but officials did not elaborate on her relationship with the adults.

The man inside the home had two open felony warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

ABC13 cameras captured deputy constables taking him into custody after being processed by CSI.

Eyewitness News video shows deputies testing for residue, which was standard procedure.

"We are in the process of interviewing witnesses, reviewing any possible video surveillance, gathering the information, trying to identify the relationship between all the individuals in the shooting," Katrib said back in February. Authorities have not provided an update on the relationships between everyone involved.

Several people, possibly related to those involved, arrived at the scene but quickly left after speaking with investigators.

Investigators urge anyone with information regarding this case to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at (713) 274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).

Information leading to the charging and/or arrest of any felony suspects may result in a cash payment of up to $5,000.

Tipsters must contact Crime Stoppers directly to remain anonymous and to be considered for a cash payment by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitting an online tip , or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app.

If you need help getting out of a domestic violence situation, call the Houston Area Women's Center 24/7 hotline at 713-528-2121 or call AVDA at 713-224-9911. You can also click here to chat with an advocate online. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and need help, call 713-528-3625.

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• >> Crime
• >> Homicides

Las Vegas attorney, wife died from multiple gunshot wounds, says coroner

The Clark County coroner’s office released the causes of death for attorney Dennis Prince and his new wife, Ashley.

Autopsies revealed that a Las Vegas attorney and his new wife died from multiple gunshot wounds Monday after another attorney opened fired during a deposition in Summerlin.

The Clark County coroner’s office released the causes of death Wednesday for Dennis Prince, 57, and Ashley Prince, 30. Both deaths were ruled homicides.

Dennis and Ashley Prince , the parents of an infant, were killed at the deposition inside the offices of Prince Law Group. Dennis Prince was representing his wife in a child custody dispute with her ex-husband, Dylan Houston, who was not present.

Las Vegas attorney Joseph Houston II, 77, who was representing his son in the case, opened fire shortly after the deposition began. He then killed himself.

The coroner’s office determined that Joseph Houston died from a “perforating contact gunshot wound” of the head and ruled the death a suicide.

A court document filed hours after the shooting described the moments leading up to the morning attack.

Five minutes after the deposition began inside a conference room, Houston “stood up, had a very glazed and rattled look in his eyes, pulled out a handgun and shot (Dennis) Prince four times,” according to the document.

Las Vegas attorney Lisa Rasmussen confirmed Tuesday that she also was present during the shooting and was representing Joseph Houston’s wife, Katherine , who was set to be questioned during the deposition.

Dylan Houston is also a Las Vegas attorney. Court records show that he filed for divorce from Ashley in October 2021 after a four-year marriage.

A divorce decree issued a month later granted the pair joint physical and legal custody of two children. But custody of the children, now 5 and 4, remained in dispute.

People emotionally affected by the shooting deaths may visit the Resiliency and Justice Center at 2915 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the Lifeline network at 988. Live chat is available at 988lifeline.org.

Contact Carri Geer Thevenot at [email protected] or 702-383-0361. Follow @CarriGeer on Twitter.

A shooting victim killed Tuesday in a northwest valley apartment complex was identified as a 16-year-old Las Vegas boy.

Dennis Prince, a prominent Las Vegas civil attorney, was slain along with his fourth wife Ashley, 30, at his Summerlin law office.

Attorney Joseph Houston had learned that the cancer that spread to his bones had returned before he fatally shot Dennis Prince and his wife before turning the gun on himself.

Ethics rules allow lawyers to represent relatives, but many say it’s a bad idea in bitter custody battles like the one that left three people dead in Summerlin.

Lawyers for Daniel Rodimer, the former congressional candidate charged with murder, want texts and phone calls between him and his wife to be ruled private.

Ashley Prince asked about private security days before she and her husband were shot and killed at a deposition, according to communications shared with the RJ.

Gunshots were reported at 9:22 p.m. in the 2100 block of Club Pacific Way, near Buffalo Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard.

A new court filing describes the moments leading up to the attack, when the gunman killed two people in front of his wife before killing himself.

Prosecutors are pushing to see more detailed information contained on Jeff German’s phone, which was seized by police after the investigative reporter was killed.

The shooting deaths of five women at two unrelated scenes in North Las Vegas within a week in March helped more than double the number of homicides city police investigated during the first quarter of the year.