Family Sues Las Vegas Tour Company Over Death in Overheated Bus

Trapped in the Heat

LAS VEGAS — The family of a Pennsylvania man who died from heat stress during a stalled bus tour to the Grand Canyon has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Nevada, accusing several companies of negligence that they say led to his death.

Jeffery Volkar, 66, died in July 2023 after being trapped for hours with 38 other passengers in a broken-down, unairconditioned bus near the Arizona-Nevada border. The civil complaint, filed in Clark County District Court, names Las Vegas-based Canyon Tours, Gray Line Las Vegas, American Transportation Systems, and the bus driver as defendants.

Claims of Negligence

The suit alleges the companies failed to maintain the bus, provide proper emergency procedures, or respond quickly when the vehicle overheated and broke down. Volkar’s widow, two daughters, son-in-law, and grandson are seeking unspecified damages.

According to the complaint, “each of the Passenger Plaintiffs was subjected to intolerable conditions for a period exceeding three hours in a non-air-conditioned, poorly ventilated bus, with no access to shade or relief.” The bus, which had no contingency plan for emergencies, reportedly lacked functioning ventilation, leaving passengers exposed to extreme desert temperatures.

Remembering Jeffery Volkar

Volkar, a retired bricklayer and longtime union member, had been traveling with family when the incident occurred. He was remembered for his love of hunting, fishing, and Western films.

A death investigation by the Arizona Department of Health Services determined that Volkar died of hyperthermia, or dangerously high body temperature, according to the complaint. Due to Arizona’s privacy laws, the department declined to officially confirm the cause of death, citing restrictions on releasing personal records.

No Response from Defendants

None of the defendants named in the lawsuit have responded publicly, and as of Friday afternoon, had not filed any legal answer to the complaint. Attorneys for the Volkar family, from the law firm Shook and Stone, also declined to comment.

Heat Deaths on the Rise

The incident took place during one of the hottest summers in recent memory for the Southwest. In 2023, Arizona reported 990 heat-related deaths, with heat listed as the primary cause in 660 of those cases. Southern Nevada also recorded 309 heat-related deaths in the same year, and the number rose to 527 in 2024, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.

Experts warn that these numbers may be underreported and are likely to grow as climate change intensifies.

Part of a Broader Pattern

The Volkar case is among several wrongful death lawsuits recently filed in Southern Nevada related to fatal heat exposure. One case involves a woman who died in a hospital parking lot after allegedly being improperly discharged during alcohol withdrawal. Another targets the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority for failing to fix a malfunctioning air conditioner that allegedly led to an 82-year-old woman’s death.

Volkar’s family hopes their lawsuit will bring accountability and raise awareness about the growing dangers of extreme heat, especially in situations where public safety depends on planning and preparedness.