Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. 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 The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. 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One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. 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. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 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. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. 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. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. 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. Arches National Park is best known for its 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. 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. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. 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. More Videos Next up in 5 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 trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The three people involved were related, Brown said. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), 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. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. Listen online or download the iHeart App. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? 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. The Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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. 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. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. 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. 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. 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. 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 most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. / CBS Colorado. 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. 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 In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. 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. The park which has over 2000 arches that 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. 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. 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.. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. 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. The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. The United States government will pay more than $10 million to the family of a Ugandan human rights activist who was decapitated in a 2020 accident at Arches National Park in Utah. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 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 I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. 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. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. Family photo. Please enter valid email address to continue. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. 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. 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. Legal Statement. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. 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. Market data provided by Factset. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. 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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Nakajjigo, originally from Kampala, Uganda, used her university tuition money to start a nonprofit organization that provided free reproductive health care to girls and young women when she was just 17. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. Several dozen per day. 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. 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. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. She and Michaud were married in March. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. The gate barely missed Michaud. 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. 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. "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. 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. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. 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. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. 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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. 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. 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. 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. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. 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. "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. 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 That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. 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. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. 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. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. The pair married in March of this year. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. 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. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. 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. 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 Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Provided by 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther "How do you measure someone like her? Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Courtesy This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. 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. They married about three months prior. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. 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. 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. 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.
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