"The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. 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. 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. She and Michaud were married in March, and the two traveled to Arches to celebrate the one-year anniversary of when they first met on a dating app. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo 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 young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. 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. According to CBS News, neither the U.S. government nor the Nakajjigo family disputed the facts of the claim. No An official form of the United States government. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. 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. Its near it but not there. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. "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. 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. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM 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. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. The park which has over 2000 arches that WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. By Thomas Peipert, Associated Press The family of a womens rights activist from Uganda has filed a more than $270 million wrongful death and personal injury claim against the National Park Service after she was decapitated by an unsecured gate at Utahs Arches National Park. The family of a young woman who was killed by a swinging gate at Arches National Park has sued the park service over her death. "I had a ton of flashbacks. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Market data provided by Factset. 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. 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. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. or redistributed. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". 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. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. 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. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. 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. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. 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. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. 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She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. The three people involved were related, Brown said. All rights reserved. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. 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. 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 While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. 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 gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. 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. 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. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. 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. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. 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. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. The pair married in March of this year. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. 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 Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). 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. Denver woman Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud, were visiting Arches National Park in mid-June when a freak accident left Nakajjigo dead. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. 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A gavel. 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. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 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. 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. Family photo. Employees knew or should have known that winds strong enough to carve stone are certainly strong enough to blow an unrestrained metal pipe gate into the path of an oncoming vehicle, Chang wrote in the claim. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. 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 Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. 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.". In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. 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. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. The suit was filed on June 8. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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 If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. 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, "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. 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 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. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. 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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. Please enter valid email address to continue. Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. 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.. 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. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the 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. 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. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. 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. 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. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. 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. 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. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther / CBS Colorado. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected.
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