Tragic. More details at the link. Their Jeep Cherokee got stuck several miles off a dirt road.

How much water would an adult, child and a dog need to survive for five days in a 100+ degree desert environment?

Don't know what their shade situation was. Guessing it wasn't good. But they had camping gear. Article doesn't say what all the mom tried to do.

What a nightmare for her to lose her little boy (the Dachsund lived).


http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10867128

Las Vegas Boy Dies After Getting Stranded in Death Valley

Updated: Aug 07, 2009 5:54 PM

An 11-year-old Las Vegas boy died after his mother's car got stuck in sand for five days on their way to Death Valley for a camping trip, officials said Friday.

...got stuck when it drove over an underground coyote den and the soil collapsed

...try to get a cell phone signal but could not,

...The pair had no maps and quickly consumed the 24 16-oz. bottles of water, Pop Tarts and cheese sandwiches they had packed.