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. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam 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. Arches National Park accident: Esther Nakajjigo's family awarded National Park Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. future Oprah or Princess Diana This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, As Nakajjigo and her husband were leaving Arches National Park, a strong gust of wind swung the gate with sufficient force to slice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. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. 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. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 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 trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. WebHuman rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020, when a traffic control gate blew into her rental car at Arches National Park in the US state of Utah. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther They married about three months prior. 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. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. 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. / CBS Colorado. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. "How do you measure someone like her? Several dozen per day. U.S. Government to Pay $10m to Family of Ugandan Activist Killed 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 "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. 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. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. 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. 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. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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 He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 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 Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! "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. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? Example video title will go here for this video. The pair married in March of this year. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific 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 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. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park 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. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. 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. "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.". 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. All rights reserved. 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. Provided by (CCA-BY-2.0). Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. 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. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. 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. Legal Statement. 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. Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH Arches National Park, which has more than 2,000 natural stone arches,closed Delicate Arch on Friday for a about six hours before it reopened, the parksaid on Twitter. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. 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. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. death WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. 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. Its near it but not there. 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. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Courtesy 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. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. 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. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. 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.