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. Arches National Park: 2 people die after falling while hiking - USA Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! 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. Family photo. All rights reserved. Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utahs Arches National Park Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. CBS News Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. 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. 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. "I had a ton of flashbacks. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. 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! Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 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. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. 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. 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. 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 was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 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.. 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. Fiery tanker crash kills driver, burns Maryland homes, Trapped Californians rescued from snow, helped by neighbors, Palo Alto: Woman killed in single-vehicle motorcycle crash, Dear Abby: I love my wife but I think I better get divorced, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: She has gone too far with the remote work option, Bobcat seen using Highway 17 wildlife crossing hours after it opens, Authorities: Man bombed PG&E transformers in South San Jose, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Dear Abby: I was always in the back seat, one way or another, William backed Harry and Meghan's eviction, prefers brother never 'set foot in England again', Map in Murdaugh murder case: 5 deaths and a mysterious shooting, Ask Amy: I didn't ask for what I wanted, and I'm sad they couldn't guess, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. 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. 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. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. 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. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther 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 They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. 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. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. 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. The park which has over 2000 arches that The gate barely missed Michaud. 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. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. NEW YORK POLICE SERGEANT FATALLY STRUCK IN WRONG-WAY CRASH. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. She and Michaud were married in March. For want of an $8.00 basic padlock, 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, according to the claim, which is a precursor to a formal lawsuit. Denver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes 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. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. 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. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. Legal Statement. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. 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 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. National Park She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. 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. 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. Denver man files claim after wife decapitated by Utah park gate According to CBS News, neither the U.S. government nor the Nakajjigo family disputed the facts of the claim. Several dozen per day. 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. (CCA-BY-2.0). U.S. Government to Pay $10m to Family of Ugandan Activist Killed This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. death Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. They married about three months prior. 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. 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. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. 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. 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. 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 Market data provided by Factset. Widower Struggles With Loss After Wife Decapitated By Gate In 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. 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. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. "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. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Example video title will go here for this video. 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. While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Listen online or download the iHeart App. 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. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. Trial begins over death of Ugandan activist who was decapitated by 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. 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 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. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson 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's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. 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. Webcams "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.". No An official form of the United States government. She and Michaud were married in March, and the two traveled to Arches to celebrate the one-year anniversary of when they first met on a dating app. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. 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 show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. gate 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. Family of Woman Decapitated by Swinging Gate at State Park "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. 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. 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. 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. 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. Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther

Royal College Of Music Junior Department, Gcse Statistics Edexcel, Chistes Biblicos Jw, Quarter Horse Sperm For Sale, Articles A