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. December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM In Sequoia National Park, the highlight is seeing the massive redwood trees, some of which may be up to 2,000 Hiker collapses, dies at Arches National Park Two tourists fell to their death while hiking in a popular area of Utahs Arches National Park on Friday, authorities said. Grand Canyon National Park is divided into 4 major areas: The South Rim, North Rim, Grand Canyon East, and West Grand Canyon. Alerts & Conditions - Arches National Park (U.S. 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. Liability, if any, would have to be based on proof of willful wanton misconduct, sometimes referred to as gross negligence.. 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. Arches National Park They appeared to be hiking together and may have been related, noted the sheriffs statement. The pole gate pierced the passenger compartment of the couple's rental car, a Chevy Malibu, and decapitated Esther. 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 Nakajjigo's husband and parents filed a $270 million administrative claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her death. 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. That unique landscape at Badwater Basin occurs because of its distance below sea level at -282 ft. 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. Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Travel within United States is: Unrestricted. Attorneys for Michaud and Nakajjigos family gave their opening arguments when the civil trial began Monday. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. And we want to express on behalf of the United States our profound sorrow for your loss," per the newspaper. Wake up to the day's most important news. 1 / 9. The family is reportedly suing the park for $270 million. Travelogue; Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal Of the accidents aftermath, Michaud told FOX 13: I saw the worst thing I hope I will ever see.. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, In order to stay healthy in this climate, it is best toavoid hiking in the middle of the day in Arches. Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Arches National Park - 332 miles. Canyonlands National Park Jan. 31, 2023 Plan completed on October 18, 2022 9. 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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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Arches National Park A video tribute to his wife showed her talking about her name, in an earlier recording. Denver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes Didn't even get to touch lava." 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. Gabby Petito's family files amended lawsuit against Moab police 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. National The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the neck, killing her. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. She had like a tremendous potential, Michaud told the TV station of his late wife. 71-Year-Old Man Collapses, Dies During Arches Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 5:30am by Lolo. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She received multiple honors for her humanitarian work and was attending a leadership program in Bolder, Colorado, at the time of her death. 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. She said there was nothing that visually set them apart. This story was reported from Los Angeles. This national park has the highest death rate in the It worked. 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 National Park Service spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday. Arches National Park 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. "I turned my head and saw what I wish I didn't see.". 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. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its Essie's father John Bocso Kateregga will receive $350,000. Esther Nakajjigo was killed at Arches National Park in 2020. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. A third man who fell was airlifted to a local hospital in Moab. 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. "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. 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. 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? 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. This verdict, though the largest by a federal judge in Utah history, cannot replace the immeasurable loss suffered by her husband and family. The mild temperatures, stunning desert landscapes, and lack of crowds make it an ideal place for peaceful winter camping. / CBS/AP. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. The park service previously issued a statement expressing sympathy to Nakajjigos family. Laundrie reportedly confessed to killing Petito in a notebook found near his partial remains. Staying with companions while hiking allows for emergency aid contact, as was the case in this mans tragic death. 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. Out in this vast, challenging desert, location and rescue can take hours even days. 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. Arches National Park An investigation is underway and an analysis is expected from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner to determine more details. National Park Nakajjigo was a humanitarian who had won numerous awards and recognition for her work. Petito was found deceased in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, at the Grand Teton National Park. Utah (ABC4) Staff members at Arches National Park recovered a deceased body on Saturday, October 1, 2022. FOX 13 Investigates: Family sues over death of woman killed in The victim was transported to the Grand County Medical Examiners Office to determine a cause of death. Photo: Getty Images. To plan the safest and most enjoyable Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here. "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.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. A hike through scenic Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, turned deadly for one man on Friday after he collapsed "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 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. Nakajjigo worked on fundraising to open a hospital in an underserved part of Kampala, Uganda's capital, became a philanthropic celebrity and immigrated to the United States for a fellowship at the Boulder, Colorado-based Watson Institute for emerging leaders. 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 Her case was labeled a homicide, with Laundrie being the sole suspect. Each area is unique and provides its guests with diverse experiences so it is good to stay in one of these areas or the nearby villages of Valles, Williams, and Tusayan.