Traffic Jam with a Tarantula?

By Gabby Major

A tarantula crossing the road in Death Valley National Park caused a car build-up involving one motorist hospitalized. Last Saturday, October 28th, two Switzerland tourists from Switzerland braked abruptly when they saw the massive spider trudging across the secluded state Route 190 east of Towne Pass. This accident has not only caused a motorcyclist to become hospitalized, but the National Park to be aware of warnings such as this. The National Park stated, “A 24-year-old Canadian man on a motorcycle then crashed into the back of the Swiss couple’s rented camper van.” Soon after the incident, they took him to Desert View Hospital, a little over an hour away. NPS also reveals that the spider walked away unharmed. Superintendent of NPS, Mike Reynolds, appearing at the site first, states, “Please drive slowly, especially going down steep hills in the park. Our roads still have gravel patches due to flood damage, and wildlife of all sizes are out.” The park service informs that this incident involving wildlife and tourists is not the first and will not be the last.