Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. This story has been shared 167,214 times. See details. Intense sunlight, low humidity, and open desert with a lack of shade all compound these temperatures to make them potentially deadly to visitors. 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. "We don't know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. It might fall over in the future. Canyonlands National Park Jan. 31, 2023 Plan completed on October 18, 2022 9. "I turned my head and saw what I wish I didn't see.". Rangers warned visitors in a tweet to proceed with caution. Its a 3-mile-long, 480-foot climb from the closest parking to see the arch up close. The Associated Press 2:50 PM MST on Jan 31, 2023 SALT LAKE CITY The United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a Utah (ABC4) Staff members at Arches National Park recovered a deceased body on Saturday, October 1, 2022. 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 Trial begins over death of Ugandan woman killed at Arches National Park. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June, eager for an adventure. I guess the great state of Utah wanted to keep it all for herself. Laundrie reportedly confessed to killing Petito in a notebook found near his partial remains. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. WebGRAND COUNTY, Utah A trial is underway after a woman was decapitated at Arches National Park. Here are our favorites. (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. Attorney: 'For want of an $8 padlock, woman lost life'. The metal pole forming the top of the gate pierced the passenger side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the head and neck. Two tourists fell to their death while hiking in a popular area of Utahs Arches National Park on Friday, authorities said. 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. Stay safe out there, Outsiders. Death Valley National Park - 366 miles. WebHere are some of the highlights of my countless trips to the three National Parks (Banff, Jasper and Yoho) in the Canadian Rockies. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. To plan the safest and most enjoyable Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here. Arches National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, regardless of the weather. Michaud and Nakajjigo had been married for just under three months when they decided to go see the Arches. She reportedly moved to Colorado for a social entrepreneurship program at the Watson Institute in Boulder. Unseasonably warm temperatures can take hold of the desert any time of year. Tragically, the father was pronounced deceased at the scene. 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. 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 Nakajjigos death. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. He was airlifted to Moab Regional Hospital. 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. It has that national park feel. According to park officials, staff located the deceased female in the Devils Garden Area around 6:45 p.m. Paramore apologizes to During the trial, a U.S. attorney representing the government said, "The United States was 100 percent at fault. Wake up to the day's most important news. In the court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, Chang described the gates as the same color as the landscape. 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. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. Heat-related Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 5:30am by Lolo. The victim was transported to the Grand County Medical Examiners Office to determine a cause of death. End your National Park Log with a "Well, That Happened Checklist" and a page to list goals for your next visit; COLLECT THE WHOLE SERIES: There are 32 unique and beautiful covers in this National Park Passport Journal series. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. 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. A National Park Service spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday. 165. 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.. 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. Many of these incidents could be avoided with visitors planning and making responsible decisions. At this time, I do not have more information to share.". When you are there, you cant help feel that it should be included among the greats. The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the neck, killing her. It's known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. "I don't want anyone or any other family to go through what we've been through," Michaud told CBS affiliate KUTV. Lehman Caves Visitor Center 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 He ultimately took his own life at a nearby environmental park. Family Files $270M Claim Against National Park Service After Death of 25-Year-Old Newlywed: Reports, Boy, 14, Killed at North Carolina Rodeo During First Bull Ride: 'My Lil Cowboy', Tom Girardi, Estranged Husband of 'RHOBH' Star Erika Girardi, Indicted on Fraud Charges, Veteran Alleges George Santos Scammed Him Out of $3K Meant for Dog's Cancer Treatment Santos Denies It, Girl, 17, Dies Suddenly at Treatment Center for Teens Second Case in Utah This Year, Newlywed Found Decapitated in Her Home, Her Husband of 3 Months Allegedly Confessed to Killing Her, Who Was Halyna Hutchins? An unidentified 60-year-old woman and First responders arrived on the scene and performed CPR before the man was pronounced dead. On February 24, park witnesses 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 WebEstimated Distance from nearby National Park. This verdict, though the largest by a federal judge in Utah history, cannot replace the immeasurable loss suffered by her husband and family. In a statement to the newspaper, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah Trina Higgins, said Nakajjigo's family was entitled to damages. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. WebThe park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks. 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. 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 "Essie was a remarkable humanitarian and champion for women and girls. 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. 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.". The family is reportedly suing the park for $270 million. Read More FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. This incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. A woman stands beneath Double Arch in Arches National Park near Moab in Utah. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The following month, the medical examiner in Sarasota County determined he died from a single gunshot wound to the head, self-inflicted. "The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Uganda's 'Young Personality of the Year,'" the Denver Post reported. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. "For how majestic these parks are, it's kind of shocking how rudimentary these gates are," she said. 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. The incident will remain under investigation by the Grand County Sheriffs Office as well as the National Park Service, the outlet cites. His body was transferred to the Grand County Medical Examiners Office. 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. 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. 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. The suit does not specify the amount the plaintiffs are seeking, though it accuses park staff of negligence. View of the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "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. That unique landscape at Badwater Basin occurs because of its distance below sea level at -282 ft. "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.". "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigo's friends, family and beloved community.". There, an investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service and Grand County. "I'm trying to be a star, to be able to lighten the lives of the people who feel it's dark," she said. Esther Nakajjigo, whod moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder, was killed instantly. 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. Michaud, in February, told FOX 13 about the trip to the park. 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. A hike through scenic Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, turned deadly for one man on Friday after he collapsed They appeared to be hiking together and may have been related, noted the sheriffs statement. Doesn't look anything like the license plate." Arches park rangers respond to hundreds of search and rescue incidents (SARs) each year in both Arches and Canyonlands. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. Nakajjigo grew up in Uganda and at 17 was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women shed donated her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center that provided free reproductive health services to young women. Staying with companions while hiking allows for emergency aid contact, as was the case in this mans tragic death. Our thoughts and condolences are with Nakajjigos friends and families. Canyonlands National Park - 339 miles. 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. 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. Liability is the exception rather than the rule, Kozlowski said. Arches National Park. Esther And we want to express on behalf of the United States our profound sorrow for your loss," per the newspaper. FOX 13 reported earlier this year how Nakajjigo died June 13, 2020. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its Aptly named for the many red rock formations that look like arches within the park, Delicate Arch is one of the most famous. 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. 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. (Photo by: Andrew Lloyd/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images). 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. Petito was found deceased in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, at the Grand Teton National Park. Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and more. The couple had been married about three months. Chang filed the paperwork notifying the National Park Service that a lawsuit will be filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, seeking damages for Ludovic, and for Nakajjigo's mother and father. A man has died after collapsing to the ground while hiking in Arches National Park. Its known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. The family of a women's rights activist from Uganda has filed a more than $270 million wrongful death claim against the National Park Service. That afternoon, emergency personnel would respond from Classic Air Medical, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management,and Grand County. Nakajjigos family will have to show her death was caused by more than negligence, said James C. Kozlowski, an associate professor of recreation management at George Mason University who studies legal issues in the outdoor industry. One area visitor responding to the Facebook post by the sheriff said there were extremely strong winds near the arch. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The others are Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. While most people have heard of Yosemite and Joshua Tree, this California park doesnt get enough recognition for its beauty. Grand Canyon National Park is divided into 4 major areas: The South Rim, North Rim, Grand Canyon East, and West Grand Canyon. Find the travel option that best suits you. Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo's husband Ludovic Michaud will receive $9.5 million while her mother Christine Namagembe will receive $700,000, according to the judgment filed in federal court. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations, CBS Colorado reported. 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 United Statesattorneys do not dispute that park officials shouldered the blame but argued the amount the family should be awarded is far less at $3.5 million and called into question the ways in which the damages being sought were calculated. Then She Was Charged with Murder, Danny Masterson Rape Trial Declared a Mistrial After Jurors Are Unable to Come to Unanimous Verdict, Julie Chrisley Said She Was 'Living in Fear' Ahead of Her and Husband Todd's Sentencing. 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.
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