Death Valley car wreck batters ranger station where ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’ was written in 1947
A tragic crash in Death Valley National Park has left one driver dead and a piece of American history badly damaged. On the afternoon of May 20, a semi-truck careened into the Emigrant Ranger Station at Emigrant Junction, a stone building with roots in the 1930s and an unexpected link to Country/Western music history.
Officials say the truck, carrying a dry form of sodium sulfate, likely lost braking power while descending the steep Towne Pass grade. The driver was the only person involved in the crash and did not survive. The semi was destroyed. The collision ruptured the fuel tanks, spilling diesel and sodium sulfate across the road.
The impact smashed the front porch of the Emigrant Ranger Station in Death Valley
It ruined two original stone columns, damaged the roof, and shattered windows. Though no longer in active use, the building is preserved for its historic value. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the station once housed park rangers, including Stan Jones. He famously wrote the Western classic “Ghost Riders in the Sky” there in 1947.
While many artists covered the song, the most famous by far is Johnny Cash’s version. Listen down below.
California Highway 190 was shut down for 22 hours between Stovepipe Wells and Towne Pass as crews cleared debris and hazmat teams managed the chemical and fuel cleanup. The Death Valley road reopened just before noon on May 21, KSNV shared.
The incident is the latest in a string of brake-related crashes in the area
Just last month, an electrical contractor’s truck caught fire after descending the same pass. In 2024 alone, six commercial trucks and one RV have burned on the steep grade.
The crash serves as another grim reminder of how unforgiving Death Valley’s terrain can be, especially for heavy rigs on hot days.
