Culver City Man Dies in Fall on Hall of Horrors in Joshua Tree National Park

A Culver City man died Thursday when he fell into a gap between boulders on the Hall of Horrors rock formation in Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County sheriff's and coroner's officials said.

Mojica Antonio Coronel, 42, was with two other people on top of the rocks when they decided to take a break about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4, Sgt. Mike Trapp of the sheriff's Thermal Station said.

"A witness observed the hiker fall over from a seated position between two rocks," Trapp said. "The fire department and the Joshua Tree National Park Search and Rescue responded and located the hiker. The hiker was recovered and pronounced deceased."

A coroner's statement said Coronel "collapsed and fell into a crevasse while climbing over boulders." He was pronounced deceased at the scene at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 4.

The Hall of Horrors climbing area is near Sheep Pass, off the Loop Road between Ryan Mountain and Skull Rock. Joshua Tree National Park entrances off Highway 62 are 70 to 80 miles east of Redlands and Loma Linda.

A pdf map of the park is attached to this report.

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