Lindsay Clancy's murder of 3 kids shows cruel trick psychosis plays, Train derailment in Springfield, Ohio as residents ordered to shelter in place, Rape survivor 'sobbed seeing Gabby Petito bodycam vid after same cop did nothing', Mom 'stabs 3 of her kids to death and wounds 2 others in unsupervised visit', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, A 25-year-old activist was beheaded in a freak accident while enjoying a trip to Arches National Park in Utah, Esther Nakajjigo died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into a car she and her husband were in and sliced het head off. 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. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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. 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 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. The pair married in March of this year. 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. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. Legal Statement. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. 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. 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. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. 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 Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. ", "Such metal pipe gates have been known to move when left unsecured, swing to the traveled part of the roadways, and penetrate into vehicles," the claim argues. 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.". While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 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. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". Several dozen per day. / CBS Colorado. Provided by 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern 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. 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. However, in his 10-page decision, Jenkins observed that the case was somewhat unusual, insofar as neither the victim nor the plaintiffs were U.S. citizens. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. 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 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. 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 "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. 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. 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The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. 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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. 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. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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 "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. Courtesy 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. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Its near it but not there. 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.. 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 gate barely missed Michaud. 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. 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. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. All rights reserved. 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, 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. WebAccording to the claim, 25-year-old Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while sitting in the passenger seat of a car that was exiting Arches National Park. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. 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. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. All rights reserved. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. 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. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. "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.". 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 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. "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. 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. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. Opening statements previewed how the trial will hinge less on varying accounts of the accident and instead focus on Nakajiigo's biography and earning potential, which is used to calculate a portion of the damages. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. 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. 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.. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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. 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 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. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. The suit was filed on June 8. 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. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. They married about three months prior. Market data provided by Factset. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. The After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. or redistributed. (CCA-BY-2.0). WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. 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. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Family photo. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". 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. "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. 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. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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WebSALT LAKE CITY Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something 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. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | 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. More Videos Next up in 5 She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. 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. 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. 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. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. 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 family of a young woman who was killed by a swinging gate at Arches National Park has sued the park service over her death. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. The park which has over 2000 arches that Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Legal Statement. 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.
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