just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in 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. 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. 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. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong 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 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. 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. 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 Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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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. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. 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. 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. Trial to begin for human rights activist killed by gate in Arches The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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. "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. 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. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. 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. 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. 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. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). 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 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. 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! (CCA-BY-2.0). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. She and Michaud were married in March. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Several dozen per day. 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. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! 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. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. FOX 13 Investigates: Grisly decapitation of ambassador at Arches document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. "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. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utahs Arches 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. 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. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. All rights reserved. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. ", "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. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. 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. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Arches National Park At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Trial begins over death of Ugandan activist who was decapitated by Video 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. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Market data provided by Factset. National Park Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. 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 No An official form of the United States government. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. Park staff told investigators the gate was usually left unsecured, and that typically the gates own weight kept it in place, so it was not locked in place by any other means. Activist, 25, hailed as future Oprah or Princess Diana is For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. 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. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. or redistributed. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. 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 This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. A metal gate at Arches National Park killed a woman. Its now the 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! United States attorneys do not dispute that park officials shouldered blame, but argued the amount the family should be awarded is far less and called into questions the ways in which the damages being sought were calculated. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The 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. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. "I had a ton of flashbacks. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling 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. All rights reserved. Widower Struggles With Loss After Wife Decapitated By Gate In 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. The three people involved were related, Brown said. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park The pair married in March of this year. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. 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. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases.
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