The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. 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. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. 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. Trial begins over death of Ugandan activist who was decapitated by or redistributed. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. 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 park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. She and Michaud were married in March. 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. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. 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. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park A YOUNG activist hailed as a "future Princess Diana or Oprah" for her work was decapitated in a gruesome accident while she and her husband were hiking in Arches National Park. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate 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. All rights reserved. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. 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. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. GRAND COUNTY, Utah A 27-year-old Denver man filed a wrongful death claim against the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) on Oct. 22 after it says his wife was decapitated by a vehicle gate at Arches National Park in Grand County, Utah. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. 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. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com Legal Statement. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Webcams 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. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. 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! 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. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Arches National Park: 2 people die after falling while hiking - USA 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. 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. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. They married about three months prior. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. Activist, 25, hailed as future Oprah or Princess Diana is An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. 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. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. Arches National Park 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 National Park On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. 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. 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. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. 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. 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. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. 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. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH 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. 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 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. No An official form of the United States government. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. 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. "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. WebThe family of a womens rights activist who was killed in a gruesome accident at a national park is suing a US agency over her tragic death. "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. 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. Family of Woman Decapitated by Swinging Gate at State Park 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. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. FOX 13 Investigates: Grisly decapitation of ambassador at Arches Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. death Arches National Park is best known for its "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. WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. 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. 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 claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. 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. 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. National Park 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 Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". 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. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo Michaud, 27, were driving out of the park during a camping trip on June 13 when strong winds blew the metal gate into the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter, according to the administrative claim, which was filed in October. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. 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. 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. 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. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? 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. 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 The Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. 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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. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Passionate about international politics and world affairs, hes an avid traveler with a keen interest in the connections between South Asia and the United States. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 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 Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All rights reserved. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The three people involved were related, Brown said. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! Market data provided by Factset. 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. More Videos Next up in 5 We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. 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. 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. 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. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. 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. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther 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 The park which has over 2000 arches that A metal gate at Arches National Park killed a woman. Its now the