The most fundamental mistake the Kim's made was relying on local LE to ensure their safety. The road they took was supposed to have been gated and locked. The lock was vandalized. If LE knew this - that is negligence period.
You cannot blame the Kim's for making mistakes based on bad information - it happens to all of us on a daily basis.
You have a point about the gate, but I stand by the letter of my post. Having almost come to grief in similar circumstances, I would urge people facing such circumstances to evaluate the risks with the utmost seriousness. Even just delaying the trip through the mountains until the daylight hours probably would have saved James' life.
No, the most fundamental mistake they made was in leaving main roads at night during a snowstorm while driving in the mountains.
You cannot blame the Kim's for making mistakes based on bad information - it happens to all of us on a daily basis.
I understand their mistakes, having made similar ones myself. But they should never have turned off the highway. Folks not used to mountains and snow tend not to understand how treacherous it can be.