Several dozen per day. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, tragically died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into the car she and her 26-year-old husband Ludovic Michaud were driving as they exited the parking lot of the Utah landmark. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The three people involved were related, Brown said. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. 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 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. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. 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. 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. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. 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. 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. The pair married in March of this year. A newlywed couples road trip to Arches National Park in Utah ended in tragedy when a metal gate at the park exit swung across the road and decapitated the 25-year-old woman as she rode in a car. Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther 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. CBS News "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. NPS faces wrongful death claim after newlywed decapitated by 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. 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. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National 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. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. They married about three months prior. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. WebDenver 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 Join the conversation! Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! 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 Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. 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 FOX 13 Investigates: Grisly decapitation of ambassador at Arches I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. The park which has over 2000 arches that 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 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. She was decapitated. 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. The gate barely missed Michaud. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. Activist, 25, hailed as future Oprah or Princess Diana is An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Market data provided by Factset. Example video title will go here for this video. National Park 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. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. 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. 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. 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. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. 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 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. 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. (CCA-BY-2.0). He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. 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. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. All rights reserved. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. 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. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against 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. 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 At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. 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. He said he didn't deny Nakajjigo was an extraordinary person, but argued it was difficult to speculate what kind of work she would have gone on to do. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM 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. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. 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. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. All rights reserved. Arches National Park, which has more than 2,000 natural stone arches,closed Delicate Arch on Friday for a about six hours before it reopened, the parksaid on Twitter. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Gate The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Arches National Park is best known for its "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. Arches National Park: 2 people die after falling while hiking - USA This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. Denver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes 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. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park Video National Park Family of Woman Decapitated by Swinging Gate at State Park 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Trial to begin for human rights activist killed by gate in Arches More Videos Next up in 5 This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. future Oprah or Princess Diana Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. death Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. 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. Widower Struggles With Loss After Wife Decapitated By Gate In 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. 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