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. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". 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. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. DENVER (CBS4) - The family of a woman killed while visiting Arches National Park is hoping they can change the dangerous conditions that lead to her death and continue the philanthropy she inspired around the globe. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. We are unapologetic in our dedication to informing the public and unafraid to call out those who are more focused on profits than peoples safety. 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. Its near it but not there. 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. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. After requesting that the family leave the courtroom, she recounted the moment Michaud realized his wife had been killed, when he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw she was dead. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches, 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, Newlywed 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. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Michaud says he wants to keep her legacy going, but he also wants the gates at National Parks and forests across the U.S. to be safe for visitors. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. While the Nakajjigo family had initially sought more in compensatory damages, their attorneys celebrated the judgment, saying that it isby farthe largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. They married about three months prior. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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 The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. "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.". NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. 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 CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. The tragic accident is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit Michaud and Nakajjigo's family are pursuing, in which they argue that the U.S. Park Service was negligent and did not maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to Nakajjigo's death. 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. 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 which has over 2000 arches that You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. 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. By the time Nakajjigo left Uganda to pursue a fully-funded leadership course in Denver, she had raised enough money to build health care facilities in her hometown. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. The lawsuit, adds CBS, observed that the activists death could have been prevented if Arches National Park had simply purchased an $8 padlock for the unsecured gate. 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. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. (CCA-BY-2.0). The gate barely missed Michaud. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. 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. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "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 was named the country's ambassador for women and girls soon after, and passionately advocated to reduce teen pregnancy and increase educational opportunities for Ugandan women. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. 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. 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. 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 Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. According to CBS News, neither the U.S. government nor the Nakajjigo family disputed the facts of the claim. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling into the bowl area near Delicate Arch. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. All rights reserved. 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. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. Family photo. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state our community can better understand itself. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. NEW YORK POLICE SERGEANT FATALLY STRUCK IN WRONG-WAY CRASH. Her husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents in October filed a $270 million wrongful-death claim a precursor to the formal lawsuit alleging that the gate should have been secured to prevent it from swinging into the road. The Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. 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.". 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Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. Legal Statement. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. 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. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). 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. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. 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. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? 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. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. GRAND COUNTY, Utah A 27-year-old Denver man filed a wrongful death claim against the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) on Oct. 22 after it says his wife was decapitated by a vehicle gate at Arches National Park in Grand County, Utah. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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. 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. The pair married in March of this year. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. 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. WebDENVER -- Ludovic Michaud has notified the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service that he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit because of a crash at the entrance 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. 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. 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. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. 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. 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. 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. 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. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. Market data provided by Factset. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. McGinn said if her life hadn't been cut short that Nakajjigo's trajectory suggested 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. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Several dozen per day. 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. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. WebDENVER The family of a Denver woman, who was killed when the entrance gate at Arches National Park swung into the passenger compartment of a rental car and decapitated her, 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. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. 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. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. WebVideo 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 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. The suit was filed on June 8. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. 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. "How do you measure someone like her? 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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.