Couple Killed in Rockslide in Yosemite National Park Identified

Two people were killed on Tuesday in a rockslide at the Highway 140 entrance of Yosemite National Park. The victims have been identified by Park officials as 51-year-old Georgios Theocharous and 35-year-old Ming Yan, a married couple from San Jose.

The incident occurred around 9 am when the couple were driving on El Portal Road, near Big Oak Flat Road. Approximately 185 tons of rock fell 1,000 feet onto the roadway below, pushing the couple’s Dodge Ram onto the embankment of the Merced River.

Following a brief closure, Highway 140 once again opened to the public, only to close again on Friday due to another rockfall.

Rockfalls are a common occurrence in Yosemite National Park, but fatalities are rare. This latest rock slide serves as a reminder of the dangers of visiting the park, and park officials are urging visitors to be aware of their surroundings and to follow safety guidelines when hiking or driving through the park.