Fatal crash damages historic California national park building linked to famous song
A truck driver died after crashing into the historic building where the Johnny Cash hit 'Ghost Riders in the Sky' was composed.
A semitruck hit the former ranger station at Emigrant Junction in Death Valley National Park on Tuesday, a news release from the National Park Service said this week. The collision on California Highway 190 is believed to have occurred due to a brake malfunction, with no other vehicles involved.
The Civilian Conservation Corps built the ranger station in the 1930s. Singer-songwriter Stan Jones wrote 'Ghost Riders' in the late 1940s during his time as a ranger, and Cash's 1979 version became the best known recording of the song. Hundreds of other performers have also recorded the song, including Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee and the Outlaws.
The truck struck the building's porch, destroying two stone columns and damaging the roof and windows. The building is not currently in use but has been maintained due to its historical value.
The truck was destroyed in the collision and spilled dry sodium and diesel onto the road. Park service staff responded to the scene, along with the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and the Inyo County Coroner. The section of Highway 190 between Stovepipe Wells and Towne Pass remained closed for 22 hours after a hazardous materials crew cleaned the area.
Brake overheating can be a problem for semitrucks and other heavy vehicles that run through the stretch of Highway 190, where long, steep grades are common on both sides of Towne Pass. A contractor truck burned after descending from Towne Pass on April 9, and several commercial trucks caught fire in the area in 2024, the park service said.
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