Intense sunlight, low humidity, and open desert with a lack of shade all compound these temperatures to make them potentially deadly to visitors. 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. Attorney: 'For want of an $8 padlock, woman lost life'. She said entrance gates should be locked into place whether they are open or closed. 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. The mild temperatures, stunning desert landscapes, and lack of crowds make it an ideal place for peaceful winter camping. Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, At this time, I do not have more information to share.". They appeared to be hiking together and may have been related, noted the sheriffs statement. 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. Her case was labeled a homicide, with Laundrie being the sole suspect. View of the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. The couple hiked to Delicate Arch and ate lunch in the Windows area before starting their drive out of the park. The pole gate pierced the passenger compartment of the couple's rental car, a Chevy Malibu, and decapitated Esther. A National Park Service spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday. Arches National Park When you are there, you cant help feel that it should be included among the greats. We've received your submission. CPR was performed on the individual on site. Canyonlands National Park Jan. 31, 2023 Plan completed on October 18, 2022 9. 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. 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'. The others are Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. It worked. What will ending the COVID-19 emergency look like in the US? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 1 / 9. The National Park Service has, in fact, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous condition for its park invitees, the claim reads, noting at least three other instances since 1988 in which people in cars were fatally impaled by such gates. 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 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. Denver7 reached out to he National Park Service to ask about the accident. "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigo's friends, family and beloved community.". 12 Dark Parks Where You Can See Millions of Stars - TheStreet Arches National Park Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Aptly named for the many red rock formations that look like arches within the park, Delicate Arch is one of the most famous. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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 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. Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service) 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. An unidentified 60-year-old woman and Shes been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice. 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. UT; National Park; 23 miles and 0.5 hours from our last stop - 1 night stay. We asked the Park Service about the swing gates and were told that both sides are now padlocked when in the "open" position. She was one in a billion, Your Honor, attorney Randi McGinn told the judge, according to FOX 13 Salt Lake City. 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. Nakajjigo was a humanitarian who had won numerous awards and recognition for her work. Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. The trial began Dec. 5 in Utah and was meant to determine how much money was owed to the family, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. On February 24, park witnesses saw the 71-year-old male collapsing to the ground and becomingunresponsive, Arches (ARCH) officials report. His body was transferred to the Grand County Medical Examiners Office. The following month, the medical examiner in Sarasota County determined he died from a single gunshot wound to the head, self-inflicted. A third man who fell was airlifted to a local hospital in Moab. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He said he didn't deny Nakajjigo was an extraordinary person, but argued it was difficult to speculate what kind of work she would have gone on to do. 3. r/JoshuaTree. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. Arches National Park December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM 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 Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. 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. Denver woman's family awarded $10.5M in Arches National 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. Canyonlands National Park - 339 miles. Travelogue; Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution. Fourteen people died in North Cascades in those 15 years, when an average of just over 25,000 Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and more. Attorneys for Michaud and Nakajjigos family gave their opening arguments when the civil trial began Monday. "For how majestic these parks are, it's kind of shocking how rudimentary these gates are," she said. 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 Family of Activist Decapitated at Arches National Park Awarded First published on December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM. Park rangers said the incident happened Friday when the 71-year-old man from Massachusetts was with his wife and son. Things to do in Zion. The family is reportedly suing the park for $270 million. She had like a tremendous potential, Michaud told the TV station of his late wife. 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. 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. national park National 1 / 9. Hiker collapses, dies at Arches National Park Luca Galuzzi via Wikimedia Commons. 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. Man collapses, suddenly dies hiking in Arches National National Parks "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.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Death Valley National Park in California might be one of the most underrated parks in the country. WebHere are some of the highlights of my countless trips to the three National Parks (Banff, Jasper and Yoho) in the Canadian Rockies. 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. Michaud, in February, told FOX 13 about the trip to the park. Arches National Park Death National Park While most people have heard of Yosemite and Joshua Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead on sale for nearly $7 million. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. Always check the weather before visiting Arches. Stars of 'Tiger King' : Where Are They Now? Esther Nakajjigo, 25, Arches National Park "I'm trying to be a star, to be able to lighten the lives of the people who feel it's dark," she said. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. Higgins did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Nakajjigo gained national notoriety in Uganda and created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to the claim. On Sept. 1, Laundrie returned to his parents' home in Florida alone. WebGRAND COUNTY, Utah A trial is underway after a woman was decapitated at Arches National Park. Opening statements previewed how the trial will hinge less on varying accounts of the accident and instead focus on Nakajiigo's biography and earning potential, which is used to calculate a portion of the damages. PROGRESSS UPDATE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION According to park officials, staff located the deceased female in the Devils Garden Area around 6:45 p.m. Paramore apologizes to ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah - An investigation is underway after a hiker collapsed and later died at Arches National Park in Utah.. Park rangers said the We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. It wasnt immediately clear why the three fell. Michaud and his in-laws previously filed a claim with the National Park Service a step toward filing the lawsuit asking for $270 million. 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. 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. National Parks 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Arches National Park "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. Arches National Park WebDeath Valley in Fall; Yosemite in the Fall; Pacific Northwest; Utah Off-Roading; Southern CA Deserts; Yosemite & Covid; Lake Powell Covid; Arches National Park, UT. A woman stands beneath Double Arch in Arches National Park near Moab in Utah. Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Laundrie reportedly confessed to killing Petito in a notebook found near his partial remains. Prosecuting attorney Randi McGinn described the death in gruesome detail and said if Nakajjigos life had not been cut short, she would have gone on to become a non-profit CEO who could eventually have netted an annual income in the hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions. We are grateful that Judge Jenkins honored Essie's life and legacy with this award," Littlepage said in a statement to PEOPLE. Zion National Park - 196 miles. / CBS/AP. Esther Nakajjigo, whod moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder, was killed instantly. Death Valley National Park - 366 miles. I ended her life, he reportedly wrote in October 2021. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its Liability, if any, would have to be based on proof of willful wanton misconduct, sometimes referred to as gross negligence.. It might fall over in the future. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 5:30am by Lolo. 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. Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park Torrance couple killed, adult son injured WebHet Arches National Park is een klein nationaal park bij Moab in het oosten van de Amerikaanse staat Utah.Er zijn diverse wandelingen (trails) in het park.Ook is er een bezoekerscentrum. WebArches National Park has a busy search and rescue operation. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest national park on earth. Out in this vast, challenging desert, location and rescue can take hours even days. Petito was found deceased in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, at the Grand Teton National Park. 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. I dont want this incident to reproduce itself ever again.. 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. 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. This story has been shared 167,214 times. 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 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. That unique landscape at Badwater Basin occurs because of its distance below sea level at -282 ft. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. 71-Year-Old Man Collapses, Dies During Arches The metal pole forming the top of the gate pierced the passenger side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the head and neck. For more on the parks HEAT KILLS safety program, see our full Arches National Park Safety breakdown here. Staying with companions while hiking allows for emergency aid contact, as was the case in this mans tragic death. He ultimately took his own life at a nearby environmental park. This story has been shared 152,729 times. Alerts & Conditions - Arches National Park (U.S. National Park To plan the safest and most enjoyable Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here. When California has experienced consistent winter rains, the spring wildflower blooms in Death Valley can reach super bloom status, which last happened in 2016. And we want to express on behalf of the United States our profound sorrow for your loss," per the newspaper. Death Valley National Park in California might be one of the most underrated parks in the country. 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. She received multiple honors for her humanitarian work and was attending a leadership program in Bolder, Colorado, at the time of her death. I guess the great state of Utah wanted to keep it all for herself. This national park has the highest death rate in the 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 Arches National Park Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland over a selfie. 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 Gabby Petito's Parents File $50 Million Lawsuit Against Utah Police Over Her Death, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino and Lauren Sorrentino's Relationship Timeline, Utah Babysitter Claimed Infant Stopped Breathing in Crib. 2 Hikers Fall To Their Deaths In Utah's Arches National Park Unseasonably warm temperatures can take hold of the desert any time of year. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations, CBS Colorado reported. 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 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. 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.". "I turned my head and saw what I wish I didn't see.". WebEstimated Distance from nearby National Park. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages A spokeswoman said the single vehicle accident happened June 13 on the entrance road of Arches National Park, near the Visitor's Center, and that the entrance was shut down for several hours. Photo provided by Ludovic Michaud Esther Nakajjigo, a Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in Arches National Park in Utah on June 13, 2020. 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? 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. @ArielleHarrison https://t.co/YoCT50YObz. 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. Nakajjigo was a Ugandan singer and actress who reportedly did charity work. Nakajjigo was a performer who used her celebrity to improve the status of women and girls in Uganda. 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. Gabby Petito: New Lawsuit Filing Says Brian Laundrie Was an 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.. National