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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. Attorneys representing the victims family asked the court to award an estimated $140 million, whereas the U.S. government argued that $3.5 million would be more appropriate and comparable to similar awards in similar claims. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. / CBS Colorado. Market data provided by Factset. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. 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. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. "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.". 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. Courtesy Email: [email protected] This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. 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. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. 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. 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. 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. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. By his verdict, Judge Bruce Jenkins has shown the world how the American justice system works to hold its own government accountable and greatly values all lives, including that of Esther Nakajjigo, a remarkable young woman from Uganda, attorney Randi McGinn said in a statement announcing the award. 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. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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 Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. The suit was filed on June 8. 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 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! After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National 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. 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. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". Legal Statement. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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 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. 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. 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. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. "I had a ton of flashbacks. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. 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. 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. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. Esther Nakajjigo a human-rights advocate from Uganda who was studying at a leadership institute in Colorado was killed instantly in the June 13 incident. 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. All rights reserved. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. 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. 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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. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? 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. WebVideo 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 A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. Family photo. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. 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. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. 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. 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. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam 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. or redistributed. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. All rights reserved. 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. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. 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. 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. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. 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. 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.. 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. 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. 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The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. The tragic accident is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit Michaud and Nakajjigo's family are pursuing, in which they argue that the U.S. Park Service was negligent and did not maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to Nakajjigo's death. The park which has over 2000 arches that ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. 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, wrote Chang, who plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected.. Provided by 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, Family sues after newlywed is 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. Example video title will go here for this video. A gavel. The gate barely missed Michaud. 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. 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 She and Michaud were married in March. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. 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. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. All rights reserved. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. 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. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 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. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. She was decapitated. "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. 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. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. 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. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. 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. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. 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. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. 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 In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. 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. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. 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. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. 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. 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. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. 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. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. 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. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. 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. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". 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