Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. "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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! They married about three months prior. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. 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. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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 In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. 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 gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. 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. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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 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. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. 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. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. 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. More Videos Next up in 5 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. NEW YORK POLICE SERGEANT FATALLY STRUCK IN WRONG-WAY CRASH. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". The suit was filed on June 8. 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.. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. Legal Statement. 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 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. 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. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. 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. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. A gavel. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. / CBS Colorado. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. 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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. ", "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. Produced by the Discovery Channel, this video highlights the geological marvels and cultural history of both Arches and Canyonlands, with footage of the spectacular and challenging red rock wilderness surrounding them. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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 Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. 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. While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. "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. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. 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 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. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther 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. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. 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. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. 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. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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. 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. "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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. 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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. 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. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". 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. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. 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.". (CCA-BY-2.0). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Provided by 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. 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. 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. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. 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. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. 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. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. 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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 photo. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. The three people involved were related, Brown said. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. 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 November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press.