FAMILY

Trial over a woman killed at Arches ends, still waiting on verdict

SALT LAKE CITY — The trial over a Ugandan woman who was killed at Arches National Park has ended. However, a verdict has yet to be reached.

After a trial that lasted roughly a week, Judge Bruce Jenkins says he wants to carefully examine the evidence in the $140 million lawsuit filed against the National Parks Service by the family of Esther Nakajuco.

Nakajuco, 25, was killed in June 2020 when a strong gust of wind forced open a gate. The gate then struck the vehicle hitting the woman in the head, and killing her. It also seriously injured her husband.

In the lawsuit, the woman’s family alleges that the gate was supposed to be secured by employees of the park.

The Ugandan women’s rights activist was on a camping trip with her husband at the time of the incident. 

If granted, the award would be the largest of its kind in U.S. history against the National Parks Service. 

There’s no word on when a verdict in the trial of the woman killed at Arches will be reached. 

Mark Jones contributed to this article.

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