If you have a story idea or tip for the FOX 13 Investigative unit, please share it with us below: Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The metal pole forming the top of the gate pierced the passenger side of the car and struck Nakajjigo in the head and neck. We are grateful that Judge Jenkins honored Essie's life and legacy with this award," Littlepage said in a statement to PEOPLE. 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. Liability, if any, would have to be based on proof of willful wanton misconduct, sometimes referred to as gross negligence.. Essie's father John Bocso Kateregga will receive $350,000. Arches National Park. To plan the safest and most enjoyable Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here. The womans family alleges the park was negligent in not locking down the gate that rammed through her car. 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.". Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and more. 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. Hiker collapses, dies at Arches 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. The suit does not specify the amount the plaintiffs are seeking, though it accuses park staff of negligence. 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. This story has been shared 152,729 times. I want to see hotel recommendations when using Rome2rio Het Arches National Park is bekend vanwege de indrukwekkende rotsformaties en balancerende rotsen zoals de Courthouse Towers, Windows Section, A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. Gabby Petito: New Lawsuit Filing Says Brian Laundrie Was an On Sept. 1, Laundrie returned to his parents' home in Florida alone. Fourteen people died in North Cascades in those 15 years, when an average of just over 25,000 "Paid $20 to get in. Arches National Park Michaud, in February, told FOX 13 about the trip to the park. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. WebArches National Park has a busy search and rescue operation. 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. According to park officials, staff located the deceased female in the Devils Garden Area around 6:45 p.m. Paramore apologizes to This story has been shared 144,788 times. Luca Galuzzi via Wikimedia Commons. Esther The area around Delicate Arch was temporarily closed off after the tragedy, but reopened later Friday. She also said it should have been installed to swing inwards for incoming traffic, not outwards. Arches National Park Her Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. It wasnt immediately clear why the three fell. Arches National Park Arches National Park On February 24, park witnesses saw the 71-year-old male collapsing to the ground and becomingunresponsive, Arches (ARCH) officials report. National Park 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 Northern lights captured in Death Valley : r/DeathValleyNP The family is reportedly suing the park for $270 million. We asked the Park Service about the swing gates and were told that both sides are now padlocked when in the "open" position. WebThe park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Tuxedo cat named Augustus Gloop is up for adoption, Utah BASE jumper slams into side of mountain. Gabby Petito's family files amended lawsuit against Moab police I ended her life, he reportedly wrote in October 2021. Other covers in the series include Arches, Death Valley, Denali, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Arches National Park This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Below, youll find general hiking safety for the park that greatly increases the safety of your trip: In all national parks, the buddy system will always be the best way to ensure a safe visit. Arches National Park 16 Best National Parks to Visit in Spring Bearfoot Theory Arches National Park There, an investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service and Grand County. Visiting Arches National Park In March The complaint also describes how Michaud had to witness the grisly scene. "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. The suit was filed last week in federal court in Denver by the widower and parents of Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo was a Ugandan singer and actress who reportedly did charity work. Lehman Caves Visitor Center 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 "Delicate arch looks like it might fall over at any time. Many of these incidents could be avoided with visitors planning and making responsible decisions. When California has experienced consistent winter rains, the spring wildflower blooms in Death Valley can reach super bloom status, which last happened in 2016. 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. Trial begins over death of Ugandan woman killed at Arches National Park. Stars of 'Tiger King' : Where Are They Now? "Emergency response personnel from the National Park Service, Grand County Sheriffs Office, Grand County EMS, Moab City Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol and Moab Valley Fire Department responded to the scene to provide assistance. 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 Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Laundrie reportedly confessed to killing Petito in a notebook found near his partial remains. 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. Report: Woman decapitated at Arches National Park, $270 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. WebHere are some of the highlights of my countless trips to the three National Parks (Banff, Jasper and Yoho) in the Canadian Rockies. Two California visitors fell to their deaths while hiking to the Delicate Arch sandstone formation in Arches National Park. WebGRAND COUNTY, Utah A trial is underway after a woman was decapitated at Arches National Park. "I don't want anyone or any other family to go through what we've been through," Michaud told CBS affiliate KUTV. This national park has the highest death rate in the When you are there, you cant help feel that it should be included among the greats. death Arches park rangers respond to hundreds of search and rescue incidents (SARs) each year in both Arches and Canyonlands. She said entrance gates should be locked into place whether they are open or closed. 3. r/JoshuaTree. "I've always wanted to meet him, though not in this way," he said. Higgins did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment. One area visitor responding to the Facebook post by the sheriff said there were extremely strong winds near the arch. Zion National Park - 196 miles. "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. "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. 1. This incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. 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. An unidentified 60-year-old woman and National Park 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. Park rangers said the incident happened Friday when the 71-year-old man from Massachusetts was with his wife and son. 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. Yosemite, and Death Valley. 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. Travelogue; Petito was found deceased in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, at the Grand Teton National Park. December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM As they entered the park on June 13, high winds blew the park entrance gate, a swinging pole, back across the highway. The mild temperatures, stunning desert landscapes, and lack of crowds make it an ideal place for peaceful winter camping. That afternoon, emergency personnel would respond from Classic Air Medical, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management,and Grand County. They appeared to be hiking together and may have been related, noted the sheriffs statement. 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. 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. Liability is the exception rather than the rule, Kozlowski said.