In a statement to the newspaper, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Trina Higgins, said Nakajjigo's family was entitled to damages. Read More FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. She served as an ambassador for women and girls in her native Uganda, and created a reality TV show to combat early pregnancy and forced marriage. It has that national park feel. A video tribute to his wife showed her talking about her name, in an earlier recording. "For how majestic these parks are, it's kind of shocking how rudimentary these gates are," she said. Attorneys for Michaud and Nakajjigos family gave their opening arguments when the civil trial began Monday. She said there was nothing that visually set them apart. Canyonlands National Park Jan. 31, 2023 Plan completed on October 18, 2022 9. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. The family Essie Nakajjigo, an activist who died in Arches National Park in 2020, is preparing to head to trial for a wrongful death lawsuit. WebThe cheapest way to get from Arches National Park to Death Valley National Park costs only $131, and the quickest way takes just 6 hours. DENVER -- Ludovic Michaud has notified the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service that he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit because of a We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Film fanatics headed to Luck ranch for Texas Film Hall of Fame, New street drug 'tranq dope,' rots skin, turns humans into 'zombies', Girl Scouts victim of theft in South Austin; no girls injured, San Marcos police searching for hit-and-run suspect; 61-year-old victim still unable to walk, Man charged in shooting death of Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso ordered held without bond, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Giant bug found at an Arkansas Walmart identified as a Jurassic-era insect, Teen musician Dorian 'ZEV' Kweller remembered as uniquely talented, hard-working, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Camila Alves McConaughey on Austin flight that 'dropped almost 4,000 feet'; 7 people reportedly hurt, Austin weather: Warmer temps continue into next week, Another US agency assesses COVID-19 origin likely a Chinese 'lab leak': report, FDA approves combination flu-COVID test for home use, Governor Abbott gives 2023 State of the State Address, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson tests positive for COVID-19. Higgins did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. See details. This story has been shared 167,214 times. According to the Grand County Sheriffs Department, the 71-year-old from Massachusetts was out hiking with his wife and son when the tragic incident occurred. In the court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, Chang described the gates as the same color as the landscape. A 71-year-old visitor from Massachusetts collapsed and died on a family hike at Arches National Park in Utah, the National Park Service reported. Death Valley National Park, California-Nevada It's a place of extremes: Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places on earth, it's also one of the darkest. WebFactors that make Arches National Park sensitive to visitor damage include being a semiarid region, the scarce, unpredictable rainfall, lack of deep freezing, and lack of plant litter, which results in soils that have both a low resistance to and slow recovery from, compressional forces such as foot traffic. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. A hike through scenic Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, turned deadly for one man on Friday after he collapsed A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. Thanks for contacting us. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, The family of a women's rights activist from Uganda sued the National Park Service in June 2021 after she was decapitated the previous year by a gate at Utah's Arches National Additionally, The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner will analyze the mans body due to the sudden, unexpected and unknown manner of his death, local 2KUTV reports. Its known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. McGinn said if her life hadn't been cut short that Nakajjigo's trajectory suggested she would have gone on to become a nonprofit CEO who could eventually have netted an annual income in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. A National Park Service spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday. And we want to express on behalf of the United States our profound sorrow for your loss," per the newspaper. The mild temperatures, stunning desert landscapes, and lack of crowds make it an ideal place for peaceful winter camping. Esther The plaintiffs contend multiple federal policies require such gates to be secured, but that the gate near the visitors center at Arches was unlatched for two weeks before it struck Nakajjigo. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. Nakajjigo and Michaud spent June 13, 2020, at Arches National Park in Utah as a way to celebrate their one-year anniversary of when they first met, according to the Associated Press. This story has been shared 144,788 times. Ludovic Michaud was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something unthinkable happened: A metal gate whipped around, sliced through the passenger door of his car and decapitated his new 25-year-old wife, Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo. The family is reportedly suing the park for $270 million. While most people have heard of Yosemite and Joshua 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Tuxedo cat named Augustus Gloop is up for adoption, Utah BASE jumper slams into side of mountain. Read more Print length 56 pages Language English Publication date February 22, 2023 Dimensions 4 x 0.13 x 6 inches See all details Product details ASIN : B0BW2HRDBL DENVER -- Ludovic Michaud has notified the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service that he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit because of a crash at the entrance to Arches National Park that claimed the life of his beloved wife, Esther Nakajjigo. She joined the paper in 2019 and previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Wake up to the day's most important news. The Late 'Rust' Cinematographer's Family, Life and Career, Jen Shah Fraud Case: U.S. Government Requests to Sentence 'RHOSLC' Star to 10 Years in Prison, Gabby Petito's Family Wins $3 Million from Brian Laundrie's Estate In Wrongful Death Suit, Fact-Checking the George Santos Claims: From Goldman Sachs Employee to College 'Volleyball Star', Jen Shah's Victim Impact Letters Detail 'Everyday Struggle' After Fraud Scheme 'Turned Our Lives Upside Down'. I want to see hotel recommendations when using Rome2rio @ArielleHarrison https://t.co/YoCT50YObz. He ultimately took his own life at a nearby environmental park. First responders from several agencies, including the National Park Service and the sheriffs department, arrived on the scene and attempted to perform CPR, but they could not prevent the mans untimely death. Here are our favorites. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Lehman Caves Visitor Center In October, Nakajjigos husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents filed a $270 million wrongful death claim a precursor to a formal lawsuit against the park, alleging that the gate should have been secured to prevent it from swinging into the road. We are grateful that Judge Jenkins honored Essie's life and legacy with this award," Littlepage said in a statement to PEOPLE. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Death Valley National Park Jan. 31, 2023 Plan completed on August 17, 2022 USCA Case #19-1044 Document #1987865 Filed: 02/28/2023 Page 3 of 7 Arches National Park Jan. 31, 2023 Plan completed on October 18, 2022 8. In fact it is the hottest and driest place on earth period. (Photo by: Andrew Lloyd/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images). "She was the woman I was trying to spend my life with," said the Parisian who'd moved to the U.S. "Everything was perfect.". The park had 3.7 deaths for every 100,000 visitors from 2007 to 2021, more than three times the rate of the next-deadliest site, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park The womans family alleges the park was negligent in not locking down the gate that rammed through her car. After moving to Colorado, Nakajjigo met her husband hed moved to the area from France and the pair married in March, just as the coronavirus pandemic began to make news. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah - An investigation is underway after a hiker collapsed and later died at Arches National Park in Utah. Arches National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, regardless of the weather. The newlyweds were on their drive out with Nakajjigo in the passenger seat when a strong wind pushed the park's entrance gate into the road, and sliced through their rental car "like a hot knife through butter," the claim said, according to the AP. We've received your submission. Nakajjigo was a Ugandan singer and actress who reportedly did charity work. A newlywed Denver couples road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in tragedy when a metal gate at the park exit swung open, impaled the couples car and decapitated the woman, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist. Yosemite, and Death Valley. Attorneys for the family of a Ugandan activist killed by a swinging metal gate at Arches National Park in Utah are seeking $140 million in damages in a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government By SAM METZ Associated Press December 5, 2022, 3:24 PM FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Part of HuffPost Environment. The area around Delicate Arch was temporarily closed off after the tragedy, but reopened later Friday. Two California visitors fell to their deaths while hiking to the Delicate Arch sandstone formation in Arches National Park. Doesn't look anything like the license plate." WebDeath Valley National Park Spring Highlights DESERT WILDFLOWERS Spring in Death Valley can bring stunning wildflower blooms, which are uniquely contrasted against the austere terrain. WebHere are some of the highlights of my countless trips to the three National Parks (Banff, Jasper and Yoho) in the Canadian Rockies. Users on Facebook offered their condolences, with one saying she hopes the nearby town of Moab will gather round the family of the deceased to support them. According to park officials, staff located the deceased female in the Devils Garden Area around 6:45 p.m. Paramore apologizes to "I don't want anyone or any other family to go through what we've been through," Michaud told CBS affiliate KUTV. Death Valley National Park in California might be one of the most underrated parks in the country. She also said it should have been installed to swing inwards for incoming traffic, not outwards. A woman stands beneath Double Arch in Arches National Park near Moab in Utah. He was airlifted to Moab Regional Hospital. Essie's father John Bocso Kateregga will receive $350,000. 71-Year-Old Man Collapses, Dies During Arches National Park Hike, Arches National Park Safety breakdown here, Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here, Never rely on a cellular phone to summon help; cellular service will not reach into many areas of Arches, If you become lost, stay where you are and wait for rescue, Wandering alone will endanger your life and make finding you difficult, When traveling alone, always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland over a selfie. The incident will remain under investigation by the Grand County Sheriffs Office as well as the National Park Service, the outlet cites. The complaint also describes how Michaud had to witness the grisly scene. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Nakajjigo was Uganda's ambassador for women and girls, and ran a health center in her home country that she set up when she was just 17 years old to provide free health services to adolescents. To plan the safest and most enjoyable Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (KKCO) - The National Park Service announced in a press release that it has identified the body of a woman found in Arches National Park earlier this week. Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest national park on earth. Nakajjigo was a performer who used her celebrity to improve the status of women and girls in Uganda. Of the accidents aftermath, Michaud told FOX 13: I saw the worst thing I hope I will ever see.. Many have said that Dead Horse Point State Park has been overlooked by the National Park Service. "I turned my head and saw what I wish I didn't see.". Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code, Vast majority of U.S. homes are unaffordable to the average buyer. Attorney: 'For want of an $8 padlock, woman lost life'. Her case was labeled a homicide, with Laundrie being the sole suspect. FOX 13 reported earlier this year how Nakajjigo died June 13, 2020. Laundrie reportedly confessed to killing Petito in a notebook found near his partial remains. The metal pole forming the top of the gate pierced the passenger side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the head and neck. RELATED: Utah teen dies after falling 150 feet while climbing near cliff, police say. An unidentified 60-year-old woman and She said entrance gates should be locked into place whether they are open or closed. It worked. Fourteen people died in North Cascades in those 15 years, when an average of just over 25,000 He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didn't have a Bachelor's degree. An unidentified 60-year-old woman and 65-year-old man were killed in the fall Friday into the lower bowl area next to the iconic arch, according to a statement from the Grand County Sheriffs Office in Moab, Utah. Ludovic Michaud and his new wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were driving aroundArches National Parkon a windy spring day in 2020 when a metal gate whipped around, sliced through the passenger door of his car and decapitated Nakajjigo. Park rangers said the incident happened Friday when the 71-year-old man from Massachusetts was with his wife and son. Staying with companions while hiking allows for emergency aid contact, as was the case in this mans tragic death. Travelogue; United States attorneys do not dispute that park officials shouldered blame, but argued the amount the family should be awarded is far less and called into questions the ways in which the damages being sought were calculated. Intense sunlight, low humidity, and open desert with a lack of shade all compound these temperatures to make them potentially deadly to visitors. The family's lawsuit claims when the national parks reopened in April 2020 after being shuttered due to COVID-19, rangers at the national park in Utah didn't secure the gate in place, which in effect "turned a metal pipe into a spear that went straight through the side of a car, decapitating and killing Esther Nakajjigo.". She described Nakajjigo as a prominent women's rights activist who rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare. Delicate Arch is one of the three main arches featured on Utah license plates. Death Valley National Park - 366 miles. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. In other words, he added, theres no liability for ordinary negligence. A widow and his wifes family are seeking $140 million in damages from the U.S. government more than two years after a woman was killed in aUtah national park. Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and more. Our thoughts and condolences are with Nakajjigos friends and families. Stay safe out there, Outsiders. WebEstimated Distance from nearby National Park. A man has died after collapsing to the ground while hiking in Arches National Park. The park had 3.7 deaths for every 100,000 visitors from 2007 to 2021, more than three times the rate of the next-deadliest site, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Reserve in southern Alaska, according to the data from the National Park Service. 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This verdict, though the largest by a federal judge in Utah history, cannot replace the immeasurable loss suffered by her husband and family. The others are Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. "It could have happened to the people in front of us, or behind us," he said. 3. r/JoshuaTree. Things to do in Zion. I dont want this incident to reproduce itself ever again.. A Torrance couple died and their adult son was injured after the family of three plummeted down a 100-foot slope in Arches National Park in Utah on Friday, Nov. 29, officials said. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Her Petito was found deceased in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, at the Grand Teton National Park. The tragic accident is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit Michaud and Nakajjigo's family are pursuing, in which they argue that the U.S. Park Service was negligent and did not maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to Nakajjigo's death. First published on December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM. I really wanted to show her Arches, he said, because I know all the parks around Moab It's one of my favorite places in the U.S., if not my favorite place.. At Arches, you can expect to see animals such as bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes, and a variety of bird species such as golden eagles and peregrine falcons. In opening statements Monday in Salt Lake City, attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigo's family said they were seeking $140 million in damages from the government. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. On February 24, park witnesses saw the 71-year-old male collapsing to the ground and becoming unresponsive, Arches (ARCH) officials report.That afternoon, emergency personnel would respond from Classic Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. "I went from the best time of my life to the worst, in one second," he said. She was also the brains behind two reality TV shows that aimed to empower young mothers and encourage girls to stay in school. She received multiple honors for her humanitarian work and was attending a leadership program in Bolder, Colorado, at the time of her death. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. Nakajjigo and Michaud spent June 13, 2020, at Arches National Park in Utah as a way to celebrate their one-year anniversary of when they first met, according to Please enter valid email address to continue. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim said. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its Sadly, deaths are not uncommon in the park. In Sequoia National Park, the highlight is seeing the massive redwood trees, some of which may be up to 2,000 Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. "Essie was a remarkable humanitarian and champion for women and girls. Another one of Utahs stunning national parks is Arches National Park. "We respect the judge's decision and hope this award will help her loved ones as they continue to heal for this tragedy," the statement read. There was less than a second between when the gate started to move and when it struck the car and killed Nakajjigo, according to the report. / CBS/AP. Liability is the exception rather than the rule, Kozlowski said. The suit was filed last week in federal court in Denver by the widower and parents of Nakajjigo. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead on sale for nearly $7 million. Zoe Littlepage, a lead attorney on the case, told The Salt Lake Tribune, that "on behalf of the family, we are very appreciative of the judge's attention to detail, the time he spent working on this, and for the value he put on the loss to this family of Essie.". The couple had been married about three months. She had like a tremendous potential, Michaud told the TV station of his late wife. She reportedly moved to Colorado for a social entrepreneurship program at the Watson Institute in Boulder. The suit does not specify the amount the plaintiffs are seeking, though it accuses park staff of negligence. A man has died after collapsing to the ground while hiking in Arches National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park - 188 miles. Deputies of the Grand County Sheriff's Office reported that a 71 year old Crater Lake National Park. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Ludovic said he knows the suit won't bring his beloved wife back, but he wants to make sure the same type of tragic accident doesn't happen to anyone else. Arches park rangers respond to hundreds of search and rescue incidents (SARs) each year in both Arches and Canyonlands. Ludovic Michaud and his new wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were driving around Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when a metal gate whipped I guess the great state of Utah wanted to keep it all for herself. SALT LAKE CITY The family of human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated in an accident in Arches National Park, has sued the National Park The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations, CBS Colorado reported. When California has experienced consistent winter rains, the spring wildflower blooms in Death Valley can reach super bloom status, which last happened in 2016. That unique landscape at Badwater Basin occurs because of its distance below sea level at -282 ft. The weather was inclement and conditions were slippery following rain and snow. A hike through scenic Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, turned deadly for one man on Friday after he collapsed and became unresponsive on the trail. The park service previously issued a statement expressing sympathy to Nakajjigos family. On Sept. 1, Laundrie returned to his parents' home in Florida alone. When you are there, you cant help feel that it should be included among the greats. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! Join. December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM FOX 13 reported earlier this year how Nakajjigo died June 13, 2020, after wind caught a traffic control gate and blew it into the rented Chevy Malibu driven by her husband, Ludo Michaud. WebA $270 million wrongful death administrative claim was reportedly filed against Arches National Park after a 25-year-old human rights activist from Uganda was killed at the They appeared to be hiking together and may have been related, noted the sheriffs statement. Didn't even get to touch lava." A federal judge awarded more than $10 million to the family of a Ugandan human rights activist who was decapitated while on a visit to Arches National Park in 2020. Zion National Park - 196 miles. They said claims by the family's lawyers that Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time of her death, was on track to be a nonprofit CEO shortly were too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. Nakajjigo's younger brother John, who traveled from Uganda to the U.S. to be at the trial, told KUTV that life without his sister has been extremely tough, but he is grateful for the opportunity to be at the trial and also meet Nakajjigo's husband for the first time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. After requesting that the family leave the courtroom, she recounted the moment Michaud realized his wife had been killed, when he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw she was dead. Photo provided by Ludovic Michaud Esther Nakajjigo, a Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in Arches National Park in Utah on June 13, 2020. TOLERABLE TEMPS While winter is the best time to visit for cool temps, early spring temperatures range between lows in the 50s and highs in the 90s. Those experiencing previous health conditions, such as heart disease, are at greater risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, both of which can be deadly. "For the sake of a padlock and chain, that you have in your garage that is all that would have made a difference in his world," Chang said. WebDeath Valley is known for its austere, barren, Mars-like terrain, but for a few weeks in the spring, this desolate National Park transforms into a colorful wildflower-studded garden. View of the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. UT; National Park; 23 miles and 0.5 hours from our last stop - 1 night stay. The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the neck, killing her.