While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 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. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. The park which has over 2000 arches that 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. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. "How do you measure someone like her? The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of 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. 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. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. 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. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. All rights reserved. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. Legal Statement. 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. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. 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! 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. 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. 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. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. Her husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents in October filed a $270 million wrongful-death claim a precursor to the formal lawsuit alleging that the gate should have been secured to prevent it from swinging into the road. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "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. 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 trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. 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. She and Michaud were married in March. Several dozen per day. Listen online or download the iHeart App. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. 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. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. / CBS Colorado. Market data provided by Factset. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. 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 He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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. Legal Statement. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 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 Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. No An official form of the United States government. "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. 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. 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. 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 park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to 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. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. 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 Fiery tanker crash kills driver, burns Maryland homes, Trapped Californians rescued from snow, helped by neighbors, Palo Alto: Woman killed in single-vehicle motorcycle crash, Dear Abby: I love my wife but I think I better get divorced, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: She has gone too far with the remote work option, Bobcat seen using Highway 17 wildlife crossing hours after it opens, Authorities: Man bombed PG&E transformers in South San Jose, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Dear Abby: I was always in the back seat, one way or another, William backed Harry and Meghan's eviction, prefers brother never 'set foot in England again', Map in Murdaugh murder case: 5 deaths and a mysterious shooting, Ask Amy: I didn't ask for what I wanted, and I'm sad they couldn't guess, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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 Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. or redistributed. (CCA-BY-2.0). 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. 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. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. "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.". The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was 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. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. 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. "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. 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. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? 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. All rights reserved. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. 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. 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. 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, If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. A gavel. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. He said he didn't deny Nakajjigo was an extraordinary person, but argued it was difficult to speculate what kind of work she would have gone on to do. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018.