Person found dead in vehicle off I-10 outside of Joshua Tree National Park

Christian Martinez
·1 min read
JOSHUA TREE, CA - MAY 25, 2023: The snow-capped San Gorgonio mountain contrasts the drought stricken landscape on desert ecologist Jim Cornett's Joshua Tree study site where there used to be 38 healthy trees but now there are only a few left on the site with no new reproduction on May 25, 2023 in Joshua Tree National Park in Joshua Tree, California. The impacts of drought in the park continues to worsen killing trees, plants and wildlife. The rain that most of California received in the past year didn't reach the eastern parts of the park.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Sheriff's officials declined to say whether the death might have been heat-related, but it was discovered as temperatures in the area reached 95 degrees Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

A person was found dead Wednesday in a vehicle parked outside Joshua Tree National Park, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said.

The vehicle was found around at 1:45 p.m. off Interstate 10 near Chiriaco Summit, about 30 miles east of Indio.

One person was found dead in the vehicle; sheriff's officials said there was no sign of foul play.

The cause of death is under investigation by the Riverside County coroner's office.

Sheriff's officials declined to say if the death might have been heat-related, but it was discovered as temperatures in the area reached 95 degrees Wednesday and were forecast to reach as high as 109 degrees on Thursday.

The region is in the midst of a dangerous heat wave, with the National Weather Service issuing an excessive heat warning on Thursday afternoon.

Read more: A relentless heat wave that refuses to let up brings danger to California, Southwest

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.