Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. NEW YORK POLICE SERGEANT FATALLY STRUCK IN WRONG-WAY CRASH. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. 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. 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. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. 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. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. All rights reserved. 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 Listen online or download the iHeart App. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. 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. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. "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.". All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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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. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. 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. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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.". 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. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. 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 "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? 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. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. 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. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. Legal Statement. 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 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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 received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. A gavel. The On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The park which has over 2000 arches that 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. 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! While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 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. ", "Such metal pipe gates have been known to move when left unsecured, swing to the traveled part of the roadways, and penetrate into vehicles," the claim argues. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. 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. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. 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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. (CCA-BY-2.0). Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. 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. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. The three people involved were related, Brown said. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. The gate barely missed Michaud. 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. 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. 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. or redistributed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. Family photo. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). 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 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. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. "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. She and Michaud were married in March. 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 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. 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 The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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 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. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. 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. 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. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. 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. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". 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. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. "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. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. 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. More Videos Next up in 5 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 Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. "I had a ton of flashbacks. 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 his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. No An official form of the United States government. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. 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. 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. 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. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. 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 Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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 Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. 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. All rights reserved. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020.
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