The three people involved were related, Brown said. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. There was less than a second between when the gate started to move and when it struck the car and killed Nakajjigo, according to the report. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. 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. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. All rights reserved. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. WebHuman rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020, when a traffic control gate blew into her rental car at Arches National Park in the US state of Utah. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate death ", "Such metal pipe gates have been known to move when left unsecured, swing to the traveled part of the roadways, and penetrate into vehicles," the claim argues. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. WebLudovic 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 around, sliced through the Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Nakajjigo, who grew up in Uganda, had been recognized since she was a teenager for her work promoting health services and education for young women and girls. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. "She's got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after A lot of people just want to continue that because that's what she would have wanted from us.". All rights reserved. 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. 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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. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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. 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. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. 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. 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. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "I had a ton of flashbacks. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo 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. WebSALT LAKE CITY Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something WebThey said claims by the family's lawyers that Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time of her death, was on track to be a nonprofit CEO shortly were too speculative to be used as a basis for The humanitarian had traveled to the US to further her studies and was awarded with the Luff Peace Fellowship by the University of Boulder in Colorado. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, Family sues after newlywed is killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park, 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Bay Area honeymooners say snorkel boat abandoned them off Maui coast, At least 26 killed in fiery train crash in Greece, If it was your child, when would you give up? Mother searches for 5-year-old son swept away in January floods, Online fundraiser emerges for Brentwood father who died while kayaking. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Market data provided by Factset. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her husband of three months when the gate swung across the road and struck their car on June 13, 2020. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. / CBS Colorado. A gavel. Michaud's claim alleges that if the gate had been properly installed or an $8 padlock had been placed to secure it from swinging, the world wouldn't have lost "a young woman influencer destined to become our society's future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates, or Oprah Winfrey. The National Park Service and Arches National Park are accused of not securing the gate, which was installed to swing in the wrong direction and was being held open by a flimsy metal tab that was worn down and rounded, according to the claim. 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. 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. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". Michaud, who lived with his Ugandan wife in Denver, Colorado, wasn't injured in the accident, but he told the news station he was completely covered in his wife's blood. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to Example video title will go here for this video. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. 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. Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. Arches National Park Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. A metal gate at Arches National Park killed a woman. Its now the Webcam Entrance Station Webcam Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? "I was a couple of inches from dying, but I didnt, and right now I have a mission: Its to make sure what shes done continues," said Michaud. They married about three months prior. 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. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. According 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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 Nakajjigo. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. 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 Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. Courtesy Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. 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. 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 Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. 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. Legal Statement. 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. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. RELATED: Search of Aurora house in case of missing teen Lashaya Stine continues, RELATED: Head brewer at Denver Beer Co. dies in climbing accident, SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Local stories from 9NEWS. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The claim also argues that NPS regularly uses gates constructed "out of metal pipes with spear-like sharp ends," and that Arches National Park had "a set of these metal pipe gates with lance-like sharp ends at the entrance/exit of the park. 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 three other instances since 1988 in which people in cars were killed by such gates. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. Arches National Park is best known for its 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. DENVER (AP) 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. National Park The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. 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. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park 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. Passionate about international politics and world affairs, hes an avid traveler with a keen interest in the connections between South Asia and the United States. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Trial to begin for human rights activist killed by gate in Arches WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. The newlyweds were driving during a camping trip on June 13, when a strong gust of wind blew an unsecured metal gate that sliced through the side of their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". She and Michaud were married in March. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. U.S. Government to Pay $10m to Family of Ugandan Activist Killed 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. 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 "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". Denver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes 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. 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. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. More Videos Next up in 5 "How do you measure someone like her? The family of a young woman who was killed by a swinging gate at Arches National Park has sued the park service over her death. Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH
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