Her 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.". In other words, he added, theres no liability for ordinary negligence. Yosemite, and Death Valley. DENVER (CBS4) - The family of a Denver woman has filed a $270 million wrongful death claim against Arches National Park after she was killed there over the 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? Shes been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice. During the trial, a U.S. attorney representing the government said, "The United States was 100 percent at fault. Denver7 reached out to he National Park Service to ask about the accident. Without warning, a gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung into the cars path. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution. See details. 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. 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Tuxedo cat named Augustus Gloop is up for adoption, Utah BASE jumper slams into side of mountain. As they entered the park on June 13, high winds blew the park entrance gate, a swinging pole, back across the highway. The weather was inclement and conditions were slippery following rain and snow. This story has been shared 167,214 times. In Sequoia National Park, the highlight is seeing the massive redwood trees, some of which may be up to 2,000 (Photo by: Andrew Lloyd/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images). Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! Arches National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, regardless of the weather. "Our sympathies go out to Esther Nakajjigo's family, friends and those whose lives she impacted," Public Affairs specialist Vanessa Lacayo said in a statement. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. It worked. 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 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. She said there was nothing that visually set them apart. Apparently when Disneyland says no selfies, they mean it - even if you're a celebrity! Many have said that Dead Horse Point State Park has been overlooked by the National Park Service. 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. Tragically, the father was pronounced deceased at the scene. WebThe park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks. He was airlifted to Moab Regional Hospital. The pole gate pierced the passenger compartment of the couple's rental car, a Chevy Malibu, and decapitated Esther. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Arches National Park. She was one in a billion, Your Honor, attorney Randi McGinn told the judge, according to FOX 13 Salt Lake City. Thanks for contacting us. Bryce Canyon National Park - 188 miles. "Essie was a remarkable humanitarian and champion for women and girls. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its 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. She could lift mountains, basically, in her own way. Photo: Getty Images. Petito was found deceased in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, at the Grand Teton National Park. The victim was transported to the Grand County Medical Examiners Office to determine a cause of death. Two California visitors fell to their deaths while hiking to the Delicate Arch sandstone formation in Arches National Park. To plan the safest and most enjoyable Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here. 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. Park staff told investigators the gate was usually left unsecured, and that typically the gates own weight kept it in place, so it was not locked in place by any other means. Zion National Park - 196 miles. The family is reportedly suing the park for $270 million. This story was reported from Los Angeles. The park service previously issued a statement expressing sympathy to Nakajjigos family. When you are there, you cant help feel that it should be included among the greats. Attorney: 'For want of an $8 padlock, woman lost life'. The Associated Press contributed to this report. On February 24, park witnesses 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. Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest national park on earth. The couple had been married about three months. 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. Didn't even get to touch lava." "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. 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. A third Californian, a 30-year-old man, also fell and was injured. The suit does not specify the amount the plaintiffs are seeking, though it accuses park staff of negligence. 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. He ultimately took his own life at a nearby environmental park. "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigo's friends, family and beloved community.". The complaint also describes how Michaud had to witness the grisly scene. Death Valley National Park in California might be one of the most underrated parks in the country. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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 trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. Grand Canyon National Park is divided into 4 major areas: The South Rim, North Rim, Grand Canyon East, and West Grand Canyon. Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post. His body was transferred to the Grand County Medical Examiners Office. 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 A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. Of the accidents aftermath, Michaud told FOX 13: I saw the worst thing I hope I will ever see.. Alongside theNational Park Service, Outsider wants visit to be safe, memorable, enjoyable, and above all: safe. 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. 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. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim said. @ArielleHarrison https://t.co/YoCT50YObz. It wasnt immediately clear why the three fell. A man has died after collapsing to the ground while hiking in Arches National Park. While most people have heard of Yosemite and Joshua Tree, this California park doesnt get enough recognition for its beauty. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, First responders arrived on the scene and performed CPR before the man was pronounced dead. 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. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. 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 She said entrance gates should be locked into place whether they are open or closed. 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 others are Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. CPR was performed on the individual on site. Nakajjigo was a Ugandan singer and actress who reportedly did charity work. Staying with companions while hiking allows for emergency aid contact, as was the case in this mans tragic death. 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. This incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. I guess the great state of Utah wanted to keep it all for herself. Canyonlands National Park - 339 miles. Nakajjigo's husband and parents filed a $270 million administrative claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her death. 1. Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. Canyonlands National Park Jan. 31, 2023 Plan completed on October 18, 2022 9. 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 Liability, if any, would have to be based on proof of willful wanton misconduct, sometimes referred to as gross negligence.. "I went from the best time of my life to the worst, in one second," he said. 1 / 9. 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 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. She also said it should have been installed to swing inwards for incoming traffic, not outwards. 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. 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 Nakajjigo accomplished more by age 25 than most people do in a lifetime. 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 (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. 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. 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. I dont want this incident to reproduce itself ever again.. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Sadly, deaths are not uncommon in the park. A woman stands beneath Double Arch in Arches National Park near Moab in Utah. A third man who fell was airlifted to a local hospital in Moab. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. 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. Deputies of the Grand County Sheriff's Office reported that a 71 year old A National Park Service spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday. 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.