"I had a ton of flashbacks. Video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was in the front passenger seat as they drove toward the gate at about the same speed as other vehicles, according to a sheriffs report. "I don't know how I could stand to see another thing like that happen, and I just want to make sure we do whatever we can to avoid, to save another life. WebAccording to the claim, 25-year-old Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while sitting in the passenger seat of a car that was exiting Arches National Park. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. 7 CHILDREN INJURED IN NEW YORK BUS CRASH THAT DAMAGED HOME, 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.". WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". WebThe United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in a 2020 accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. "Our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates, or Oprah Winfrey," the claim says. Nakajjigo grew up in Uganda and at 17 was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women shed donated her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center that provided free reproductive health services to young women. 4 hospitalized in San Pedro beach shooting, Angelino Heights plagued by street racing, residents, SoCal man convicted of rape, molestation attacks, Weekend clouds make way for sunshine by midweek, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, CA awaits key decisions from reparations task force, LAPD looking for autistic man last seen in downtown, Ducks assistant coach diagnosed with melanoma, LAPD searching for driver in fatal San Pedro hit-and-run, 1 killed amid turbulence event on business jet, Grizzlies Morant to miss Clippers, Lakers games, Festival of Whales returns to Dana Point Harbor, AlienCon attracting space enthusiasts to Pasadena, Folks near Jack Daniels facility see whiskey fungus. Denver man files claim after wife decapitated by Utah park gate "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. Activist, 25, hailed as future Oprah or Princess Diana is For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. Market data provided by Factset. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. The couple was on their way to get ice cream when "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter," according to the claim, which was obtained by NBC News. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! gate The United Nations Population Fund gave her a Woman Achiever Award when she was 17, and she was named Ugandas Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony. Deborah Chang, the Los Angeles-based attorney representing Michaud, claimed there was nothing he could do to swerve out of the way of the gate that killed his wife and missed him by a hair. Arches National Park We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos.. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against They said claims by the familys lawyers that Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time of her death, was on track to be a non-profit CEO shortly were too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. In 2018, she participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program at Drexel University, and she was also the recipient of the 2018 Luff Peace Fellowship at Watson Institute. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Lawmakers targeting hospital facility fees, (720) 263-2338 Call, text, Signal or WhatsApp, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 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Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "The National Park Service has, in face, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous conditions," says the claim. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Employees knew or should have known that winds strong enough to carve stone are certainly strong enough to blow an unrestrained metal pipe gate into the path of an oncoming vehicle, Chang wrote in the claim. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. The National Park Service did not respond to an email seeking comment, and the media relations voicemail inbox was full and could not accept messages. CBS News A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into a car she and her husband were in and sliced het head off Credit: Handout. A YOUNG activist hailed as a "future Princess Diana or Oprah" for her work was decapitated in a gruesome accident while she and her husband were hiking in Arches National Park. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. Listen online or download the iHeart App. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The pair married in March of this year. As Nakajjigo and her husband were leaving Arches National Park, a strong gust of wind swung the gate with sufficient force to slice through the passenger door of the couples vehicle, decapitating Nakajjigo as her husband sat in the drivers seat. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. According to CBS News, Esther Essie Nakajjigo was killed after a metal gate at Arches sliced through the passenger side of the vehicle driven by her newlywed husband. Nakajjigo was born in Kampala, Uganda, and used her university tuition money to start a nonprofit community health care center when she was 17, providing free reproductive health services to girls and young women, according to a biography included in the claim. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. WebWidower Struggles With Loss After Wife Decapitated By Gate In Arches National Park 1,777,542 views Nov 12, 2020 30K Dislike Save CBS Colorado 98.1K subscribers If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. She described Nakajjigo as a prominent women's rights activist who rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. In an email to The Associated Press, National Park Service spokeswoman Vanessa Lacayo expressed sympathy for Nakajjigos family, friends and those whose lives she touched but did not address the wrongful death claim. Example video title will go here for this video. Denver woman Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud, were visiting Arches National Park in mid-June when a freak accident left Nakajjigo dead. 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. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to The three people involved were related, Brown said. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. Attorney Deborah Chang, who filed the claim on behalf of Michaud, as well as Nakajjigos parents, wrote that the National Park Service has for years used entrance and exit gates made of metal poles with spear-like sharp ends, and they were known to swing into roadways when left unsecured.. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "How do you measure someone like her? He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. However, she eventually became the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda, which emphasized womens empowerment, educational attainment, and equitable access to health care. While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. Elon Musk Wins Funding Secured Shareholder Lawsuit, Blog vs YouTube Over Other Websites: How to Choose, Behind the Story of Ghostbed vs. Purple Mattress Lawsuit, Investigation Reveals Goodyears Dunlop D402 Tires Have Caused Dozens of Motorcycle Accidents, Amputees Third Attempt at Holding Medical Personnel Responsible Pays Off. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Michauds attorneys also said the federal government was aware of the dangers, citing a 1980 accident in which a man was impaled by an unsecured gate as he rode in the back of a pickup in Californias Stanislaus National Forest. or redistributed. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". All rights reserved. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam Nakajjigo gained national attention in Uganda and created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to the claim. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. Attorneys representing the victims family asked the court to award an estimated $140 million, whereas the U.S. government argued that $3.5 million would be more appropriate and comparable to similar awards in similar claims. Web6 Esther Nakajjigo was a Ugandan human rights activist and newlywed wife when the 25-year-old was killed at Arches National Park in 2020, decapitated by an unsecured gate that is This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo Michaud, 27, were driving out of the park during a camping trip on June 13 when strong winds blew the metal gate into the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter, according to the administrative claim, which was filed in October. Produced by the Discovery Channel, this video highlights the geological marvels and cultural history of both Arches and Canyonlands, with footage of the spectacular and challenging red rock wilderness surrounding them. Several dozen per day. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. Legal Statement. 2 injured, including officer, in Aurora crash, 2 hurt, including officer, in rollover crash, Documentary featuring local family coping with loss after suicide aims to open up conversations, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days, Mandela Washington Fellowship program at Drexel University, Luff Peace Fellowship at Watson Institute, Search of Aurora house in case of missing teen Lashaya Stine continues, Head brewer at Denver Beer Co. dies in climbing accident. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. By Thomas Peipert, Associated Press The family of a womens rights activist from Uganda has filed a more than $270 million wrongful death and personal injury claim against the National Park Service after she was decapitated by an unsecured gate at Utahs Arches National Park. The couple planned to throw a big wedding in Uganda once the coronavirus pandemic - instead, Michaud is now in mourning and hopes that his claim will save others from experiencing a similar pain. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. For want of an $8.00 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates or Oprah Winfrey, according to the claim, which is a precursor to a formal lawsuit. Employees knew or should have known that winds strong enough to carve stone are certainly strong enough to blow an unrestrained metal pipe gate into the path of an oncoming vehicle, wrote Chang, who plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected.. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Michauds attorneys also said the federal government was aware of the dangers, citing a 1980 accident in which a man was impaled by an unsecured gate as he rode in the back of a pickup in Californias Stanislaus National Forest. 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This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. Lindsay Clancy's murder of 3 kids shows cruel trick psychosis plays, Train derailment in Springfield, Ohio as residents ordered to shelter in place, Rape survivor 'sobbed seeing Gabby Petito bodycam vid after same cop did nothing', Mom 'stabs 3 of her kids to death and wounds 2 others in unsupervised visit', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, A 25-year-old activist was beheaded in a freak accident while enjoying a trip to Arches National Park in Utah, Esther Nakajjigo died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into a car she and her husband were in and sliced het head off. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. Video The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. More Videos Next up in 5 She and Michaud were married in March. Nakajjigo and Michaud, a French-born tech solutions architect, met on a dating app last year and tied the knot at a courthouse ceremony in March. Trial to begin for human rights activist killed by gate in Arches WebThe family of Ugandan philanthropist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated by a traffic gate in front of her husband in Arches National Park in Utah, has been awarded $10.5m. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. WebIn 2020, Ludovic Michaud was driving with his 25-year-old wife Esther Nakajjigo out of Utah's Arches National Park to get ice cream on June 13 when a metal gate swung into the car Ludovic Michaud says that his wife, 25-year-old Esther Nakajjigo, was decapitated when a metal gate swung into their 2020 Chevy Malibu as they were leaving the park on June 13, 2020, according to the claim. "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. U.S. Government to Pay $10m to Family of Ugandan Activist Killed WebThe family of a womens rights activist who was killed in a gruesome accident at a national park is suing a US agency over her tragic death. She was decapitated. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. Suspect arrested after 6 stabbed in downtown L.A. 3 arrested for nearly $1 million in stolen student, Carjacking suspect shot in wild chase in L.A. County, Newport Beach home dangling after cliffside collapse, Over $38M stolen from low-income SoCal families, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Provided by Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. WebEsther Essie Nakajjigo was 25 years old when an unsecured gate inside Arches National Park swung open and impaled the vehicle she was a passenger in, killing her. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Last month, Nakajjigos husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents filed a $270 million wrongful-death claim a precursor to a formal lawsuit alleging that the gate should have been secured to prevent it from swinging into the road. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. By his verdict, Judge Bruce Jenkins has shown the world how the American justice system works to hold its own government accountable and greatly values all lives, including that of Esther Nakajjigo, a remarkable young woman from Uganda, attorney Randi McGinn said in a statement announcing the award. Esther Nakajjigo a human-rights advocate from Uganda who was studying at a leadership institute in Colorado was killed instantly in the June 13 incident. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. A metal gate at Arches National Park killed a woman. Its now the Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year,' the Denver Post reported in a 2020 article detailing Nakajjigos death. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo Michaud, 26, were driving to get ice cream during a camping trip June 13 when a metal gate blew closed in strong winds and sliced through the side of their car like a hot knife through butter, according to the administrative claim, which was filed in October. Arches National Park accident: Esther Nakajjigo's family awarded 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Denver woman Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud, were visiting Arches National Park in mid-June when a freak accident left Nakajjigo dead. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Its near it but not there. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. (CCA-BY-2.0). Decapitated human rights activists family wins $10 million lawsuit after accident at Utah park, Denver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes death, Family awarded $10.5 million for newlywed decapitated by metal gate at Arches National Park in Utah. NEW YORK POLICE SERGEANT FATALLY STRUCK IN WRONG-WAY CRASH. Market data provided by Factset. Trial begins over death of Ugandan activist who was decapitated by Esther Nakajjigo died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into a car she and her husband were in and sliced het head off Credit: Handout. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I.
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