Man dies of exposure after vehicle gets stuck in wash

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009 | 12:07 p.m.

A Bullhead City, Ariz., man died of exposure in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area last week after his SUV got stuck in a wash, park rangers said today.

The body of Steven Corso, 43, was found by a park visitor Aug. 5 on a little-used dirt road about one-half mile from where his GMC Yukon was mired in sand, National Park Service spokesman Andrew Munoz said. He apparently had hiked to Portland Mine Road, near its intersection with Jeep Cove Road.

He was found by visitors headed to Jeep Cove, Munoz said.

Investigators found no food or water nearby, but there was evidence that Corso had tried to chew into a barrel cactus to get some moisture, Munoz said. He appeared to be traveling alone.

“We don’t know how long he was out there or why he was out there,” Munoz said.

The road is about 15 miles north of Bullhead City and at least 35 miles from U.S. 93, he said.

“During this time of year, that road doesn’t see a lot of traffic other than people going down to the shoreline,” Munoz said. “If he hadn’t made it to the road, we probably would not have found him for a long while.”

The death underscores the need for care when traveling in the desert, Munoz said.

“You don’t want to head out when we are experiencing high temperatures,” he said. “If you are heading out, have plenty of water, at least a gallon per person for each day you’re going to be out. And you need to constantly be drinking water, at least once an hour, whether you are thirsty or not.”

In addition, he said, desert travelers need to let someone know where they’re going and when to expect them back, so if they don’t return, help can be called.

“When people venture out into the desert, they have to remember it can be dangerous unless you’re prepared,” he said.

Jean Reid Norman can be reached at 948-2073 or jean.norman@lasvegassun.com.

Discussion: 14 comments so far…

By stevem

8/12/09 at 12:15 p.m.

Suggest removal

darwin.
By goingbust

8/12/09 at 12:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Chew? The guy didn't even bring a knife, much less some water?
By Teaser

8/12/09 at 1:20 p.m.

Suggest removal

"A man's got to know his limitations."
- Dirty Harry
By DesertKayaker

8/12/09 at 1:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

A very sad and needless death.
By mrjb

8/12/09 at 2:38 p.m.

Suggest removal

always stay with your vehicle if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere.
By mred

8/12/09 at 2:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

We need to have the government require certain provisions for off road travelers and hikers, just like they require boats, lifeboats, and aircraft traveling in remote areas to have survival kits and emergency equipment.

Even back at the turn of the century during the Yukon and Alaskan gold rush, miners had to have thousands of pounds of provisions, or else the Mounties would not let them ascend the pass to the Gold Fields. (See the John Wayne movie "North to Alaska.")
By Katie

8/12/09 at 5:22 p.m.

Suggest removal

Sorry, mred, the government has better things to do than tell people who live in the desert how to travel in the desert and what to take with them when they travel in the desert. Geez, you have to take water with you even going to Walmart's!!! A sad and unnecessary death.

Oh, cell phone??? Didn't he have one??
By getalife

8/12/09 at 5:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

I was taught two things about traveling in the desert a long time ago:

1. Always carry two - three extra gallons of water.

2. Lighter fluid and matches. This is so you can take the spare out of your car and light it on fire. You would be amazed how visible a car tire is and how long it burns.

Stuff like this is tragic beyond words.
By DTJ

8/12/09 at 11:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

Are fools going out in the middle of nowhere in the Mojave Desert -in friggin' AUGUST- now going to compete for headlines with babies being left to par-boil to death in automobiles? What is the mean I.Q. of this town, anyway?
By dipstick

8/14/09 at 5:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

it shouldnt surprise anyone that this happens; 40000 fans still show up every day to see the chicago cubs lose another game; whats that tell you?
By Babyboomer

8/14/09 at 6:15 a.m.

Suggest removal

What goes through their heads? I will never understand.
By Rocco

8/14/09 at 6:32 a.m.

Suggest removal

why would anyone go out there in the summer by themselves with no water....
By DesertKayaker

8/14/09 at 10:06 a.m.

Suggest removal

Katie, I agree with you - the government SHOULDN'T be our caretaker/overseer in every aspect of our lives. You know, the man could have had a cell phone but couldn't get a signal.

Mred, please don't believe every John Wayne film - or any other movie. Still, lots of gold seekers died on the way to Alaska - with and without provisions - because they simply didn't know how to deal with the weather and elements.