A TOURIST TRAGEDY UNFOLDS AT WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT THIS WEEK. AUTHORITIES SAY TWO VISITORS FROM FRANCE DIED AND ONE WAS RESCUED THIS PAST TUESDAY WHILE HIKING THE ALKALI FLAT TRAIL IN THE MONUMENT WITH THEIR CHILD.
PARK RANGERS ON A ROUTINE PATROL FOUND THE WOMAN AROUND 5:30 PM ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF FROM THE TRAIL HEAD, THEN DISCOVERED THE MAN 30 MINUTES LATER. A CHILD WAS FOUND ALIVE AND WAS TREATED FOR HEAT EXPOSURE.
PARK OFFICIALS SAY THE HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT DAY WAS 101 DEGREES. THE LAST FATALITY AT WHITE SANDS WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.
