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. Activist, 25, hailed as future Oprah or Princess Diana is 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. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. 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. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. All rights reserved. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. Arches National Park is best known for its She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. "The National Park Service has, in face, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous conditions," says the claim. 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. 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. 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. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. She and Michaud were married in March. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. 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 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Gate According to CBS News, neither the U.S. government nor the Nakajjigo family disputed the facts of the claim. 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. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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 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. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. "I had a ton of flashbacks. 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. death WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. 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. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. 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. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? CBS News Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. NPS faces wrongful death claim after newlywed decapitated by ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. death 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. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. 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. No An official form of the United States government. All rights reserved. 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! RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate 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. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. 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 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. 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. Courtesy One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. Legal Statement. 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. or redistributed. The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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.". National Park NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. 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. 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. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. 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. 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. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam 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. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". Denver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. The park which has over 2000 arches that In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. 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. 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. 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. Arches National Park: 2 people die after falling while hiking - USA 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. The pair married in March of this year. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. The 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". 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. 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 growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 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. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. Webcams He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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. (CCA-BY-2.0). November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. 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. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. Video 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. 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. 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. Legal Statement. "How do you measure someone like her? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utahs Arches National Park future Oprah or Princess Diana gate Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. 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 After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. The gate barely missed Michaud. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. 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