Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. 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. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. 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. 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. 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. Drop us a note at [email protected]. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. For want of an $8.00 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates or Oprah Winfrey, according to the claim, which is a precursor to a formal lawsuit. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. Nakajjigo, who grew up in Uganda, had been recognized since she was a teenager for her work promoting health services and education for young women and girls. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. 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. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud 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. 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.. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Legal Statement. 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. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. 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. A gavel. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was "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. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. 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! The park which has over 2000 arches that 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. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. 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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 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. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. 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. 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 gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. 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 Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. 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. 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. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". 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. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. 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. 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They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. 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. "I had a ton of flashbacks. 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. No An official form of the United States government. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | 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, 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. 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. Family photo. The gate barely missed Michaud. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. / CBS Colorado. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam 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. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. ", "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. Example video title will go here for this video. 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 was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. Several dozen per day. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The three people involved were related, Brown said. 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. 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. 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 In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. 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.
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