The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. She and Michaud were married in March. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. 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 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. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. 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. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. 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. 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. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. 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 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. 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. 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.. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. 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. All rights reserved. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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 trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. 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. 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 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. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. Its near it but not there. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. or redistributed. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. 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. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. 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. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. (CCA-BY-2.0). 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. 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. 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. 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 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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 moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. 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. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. According to CBS News, neither the U.S. government nor the Nakajjigo family disputed the facts of the claim. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). 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. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. Listen online or download the iHeart App. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. All rights reserved. More Videos Next up in 5 The suit was filed on June 8. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. 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. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. 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. 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 He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. She was decapitated. 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. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. 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. 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. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. The three people involved were related, Brown said. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. 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. 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. 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. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. "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 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. 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. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling 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 "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. 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 He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 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. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was 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 Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment.
Can You Kick The Ball In Girls' Lacrosse,
Is The Byrna Hd Legal In Michigan,
Transformco Employee Login,
2kmtcentral 2k20 Finals Draft,
Secret Symbols Of The Knights Templar,
Articles A