Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. 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Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Nakajjigo was born in Kampala, Uganda, and used her university tuition money to start a nonprofit community health care center when she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. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. 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.
Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. She was decapitated. Listen online or download the iHeart App. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window.
Gate Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. No An official form of the United States government. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File).
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. More Videos Next up in 5 Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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 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. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. 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. 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. 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 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. 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. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling 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. 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.
Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. 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 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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.
National Park "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. 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.
Trial begins over death of Ugandan activist who was decapitated by Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". 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. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. 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.
National Park She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. 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 Morning Report and other email newsletters. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. 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. All rights reserved. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. 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 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. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? 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 Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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.
Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utahs Arches National Park death 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. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. Arches National Park is best known for its 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. 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. 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'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. 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. All rights reserved. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.".
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. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. Provided by The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. 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 "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 show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. Elon Musk Wins Funding Secured Shareholder Lawsuit, Blog vs YouTube Over Other Websites: How to Choose, Behind the Story of Ghostbed vs. Purple Mattress Lawsuit, Investigation Reveals Goodyears Dunlop D402 Tires Have Caused Dozens of Motorcycle Accidents, Amputees Third Attempt at Holding Medical Personnel Responsible Pays Off. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. The three people involved were related, Brown said. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo
FOX 13 Investigates: Grisly decapitation of ambassador at Arches / CBS Colorado. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. 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. 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 Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. 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.
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. 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. 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. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. They married about three months prior. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she 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! "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". 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 "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I.
For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018.
Activist, 25, hailed as future Oprah or Princess Diana is All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. 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. 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. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arches National Park accident: Esther Nakajjigo's family awarded Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park 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. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. 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. 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. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. "How do you measure someone like 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. 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. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. "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. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated.
Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. 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. 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 (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. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. 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. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. 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. 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 He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. 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. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. Legal Statement.