Here?s Why This Road Is Called the ?Death Road? Since Years

Surrounded by a swirl of mist and serene silence, the Yungas Valleys in Bolivia are a beautiful sight to behold. Its beauty draws people in, but its history paints a sordid picture. The Yungas Road, aka ‘Death Road’, is a 64km long lane with a whopping 3500m descent.

The duo from New Zealand, Emile Vollenhoven and Brittany Homan were holidaying in the entire South America and made a stop at the valley to participate in the famous cycle tour in the year 2019.

What turned the death road synonymous to one of them?

There are several companies that provide tours but the couple was associated with Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking Bolivia, renowned for its high standards of safety and professionalism of staff. The tour starts off with a 20km paved road before turning into a dirt surface and the lanes are merely 3 meters wide. The tour is a high-octane and thrilling experience, but Emile Vollenhoven met with an unfortunate demise. It is reported that he plunged 100 meters below the road and, with guides stationed at stops every 5 meters, the organizers began searching for him after he failed to reach the next stop.

The guides then proceeded to trace his movements and identified the point of fall. The lead guide abseils down 100 meters where he finds the lifeless body of Vollenhoven, to the dismay of his loved ones.

Vollenhoven’s long-term partner Brittany put up a heartfelt post on Instagram that read: ?My baby. My soulmate. My everything. 5 years were not enough but I will cherish every moment we had. Fly high my angel, wait for me up there, I?ll always be yours.?

Death a commonplace at the Death Road

Alistair Matthews, owner of Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking Bolivia, also released a statement after the fatal accident that said: “All of us at Gravity Bolivia are deeply shaken by this tragic accident and want to express our deepest condolences to his friends and family.”

He further added: “It had been raining, and the rain had just begun to pick up at the time, but I wouldn’t say it was torrential. That would be fairly typical conditions at this time of year.”

The “Death Road” claims nearly 300 lives every year. Despite its dangers, thrill-seekers still venture out in large numbers.

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