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. (CCA-BY-2.0). The pair married in March of this year. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The gate barely missed Michaud. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's 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. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. 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 park which has over 2000 arches that / CBS Colorado. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 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. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to 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. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. "I had a ton of flashbacks. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. 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. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. 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. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. 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. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". 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. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 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. 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 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 is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. 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. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. Please enter valid email address to continue. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. 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 show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. 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. 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. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. The In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. 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. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. 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 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. Suspect arrested after 6 stabbed in downtown L.A. 3 arrested for nearly $1 million in stolen student, Carjacking suspect shot in wild chase in L.A. County, Newport Beach home dangling after cliffside collapse, Over $38M stolen from low-income SoCal families, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. Arches National Park, which has more than 2,000 natural stone arches,closed Delicate Arch on Friday for a about six hours before it reopened, the parksaid on Twitter. 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. 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 his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. 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. 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. 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. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. 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. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. 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 claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? 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. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. 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. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. Several dozen per day. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. Listen online or download the iHeart App. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. 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. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Arches National Park is best known for its The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance 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. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 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 Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. The suit was filed on June 8. 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. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. 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. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. 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. 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. 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. 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. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. She was decapitated. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. 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. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. 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. or redistributed. 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 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. "How do you measure someone like her? 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. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. 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. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 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. 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. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. 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. Provided by Legal Statement. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. 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. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. 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. 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. Its near it but not there. 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 gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "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.".