2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Tuxedo cat named Augustus Gloop is up for adoption, Utah BASE jumper slams into side of mountain. CPR was performed on the individual on site. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She was also the brains behind two reality TV shows that aimed to empower young mothers and encourage girls to stay in school. Intense sunlight, low humidity, and open desert with a lack of shade all compound these temperatures to make them potentially deadly to visitors. Aptly named for the many red rock formations that look like arches within the park, Delicate Arch is one of the most famous. That afternoon, emergency personnel would respond from Classic Air Medical, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management,and Grand County. Death Valley National Park in California might be one of the most underrated parks in the country. 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. First published on December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM. 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 An unidentified 60-year-old woman and 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. Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest national park on earth. The park service previously issued a statement expressing sympathy to Nakajjigos family. Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 5:30am by Lolo. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. "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. 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. The 46-foot-tall Delicate Arch is the largest free-standing arch and the most widely known of the 2,000 arches in the park, which draws more than 1.5 million visitors per year. She said there was nothing that visually set them apart. 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. WebArches National Park and Death Valley National Park are both home to a variety of unique and diverse wildlife. "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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Photo courtesy Grand County Sheriff's Office. 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. WebFurnace Creek Campground Death Valley National Park Winter is the best time of year to camp at Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley National Park. Didn't even get to touch lava." 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. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. In Sequoia National Park, the highlight is seeing the massive redwood trees, some of which may be up to 2,000 Her WebEstimated Distance from nearby National Park. 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. 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. 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. He ultimately took his own life at a nearby environmental park. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Arches National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, regardless of the weather. See details. The others are Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. 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. According to park officials, staff located the deceased female in the Devils Garden Area around 6:45 p.m. Paramore apologizes to The judge is expected to issue his ruling in the coming weeks. Attorney: 'For want of an $8 padlock, woman lost life'. I dont want this incident to reproduce itself ever again.. Please enter valid email address to continue. WebArches National Park has a busy search and rescue operation. Yosemite, and Death Valley. She had like a tremendous potential, Michaud told the TV station of his late wife. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 pole gate pierced the passenger compartment of the couple's rental car, a Chevy Malibu, and decapitated Esther. "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. Liability is the exception rather than the rule, Kozlowski said. 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. 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 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. Ludovic's attorney, Deborah Chang, told Denver7 the entrance gate should have been locked open, and not allowed to swing freely. "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. 71-Year-Old Man Collapses, Dies During Arches National Park Hike, Arches National Park Safety breakdown here, Arches trip, see our full overview of the national park here, Never rely on a cellular phone to summon help; cellular service will not reach into many areas of Arches, If you become lost, stay where you are and wait for rescue, Wandering alone will endanger your life and make finding you difficult, When traveling alone, always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. 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 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. In other words, he added, theres no liability for ordinary negligence. On February 24, park witnesses saw the 71-year-old male collapsing to the ground and becomingunresponsive, Arches (ARCH) officials report. Michaud and his in-laws previously filed a claim with the National Park Service a step toward filing the lawsuit asking for $270 million. "It could have happened to the people in front of us, or behind us," he said. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Film fanatics headed to Luck ranch for Texas Film Hall of Fame, New street drug 'tranq dope,' rots skin, turns humans into 'zombies', Girl Scouts victim of theft in South Austin; no girls injured, San Marcos police searching for hit-and-run suspect; 61-year-old victim still unable to walk, Man charged in shooting death of Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso ordered held without bond, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Giant bug found at an Arkansas Walmart identified as a Jurassic-era insect, Teen musician Dorian 'ZEV' Kweller remembered as uniquely talented, hard-working, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Camila Alves McConaughey on Austin flight that 'dropped almost 4,000 feet'; 7 people reportedly hurt, Austin weather: Warmer temps continue into next week, Another US agency assesses COVID-19 origin likely a Chinese 'lab leak': report, FDA approves combination flu-COVID test for home use, Governor Abbott gives 2023 State of the State Address, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson tests positive for COVID-19. 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. 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'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.". Arches National Park. 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'. When you are there, you cant help feel that it should be included among the greats. She could lift mountains, basically, in her own way. She was one in a billion, Your Honor, attorney Randi McGinn told the judge, according to FOX 13 Salt Lake City. Here are our favorites. A man has died after collapsing to the ground while hiking in Arches National Park. View of the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, This story has been shared 152,729 times. @ArielleHarrison Two tourists fell to their death while hiking in a popular area of Utahs Arches National Park on Friday, authorities said. Thanks for contacting us. "Essie was a remarkable humanitarian and champion for women and girls. Doesn't look anything like the license plate." Nakajjigo was a humanitarian who had won numerous awards and recognition for her work. 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. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Stay safe out there, Outsiders. UT; National Park; 23 miles and 0.5 hours from our last stop - 1 night stay. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The area around Delicate Arch was temporarily closed off after the tragedy, but reopened later Friday. In June, the couple needed a break from quarantine, so they drove to Utah. 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. (Photo by: Andrew Lloyd/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images). Two California visitors fell to their deaths while hiking to the Delicate Arch sandstone formation in Arches National Park. 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 Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. Higgins did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment. Michaud, in February, told FOX 13 about the trip to the park. Join. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Unseasonably warm temperatures can take hold of the desert any time of year. A family hike in Arches National Park ended in tragedy as a Massachusetts father collapsed while exploring with his wife and son. This story has been shared 144,788 times. 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 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. 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. 1. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead on sale for nearly $7 million. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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 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. Staying with companions while hiking allows for emergency aid contact, as was the case in this mans tragic death.