Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. 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 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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 The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. Nakajjigo, who grew up in Uganda, had been recognized since she was a teenager for her work promoting health services and education for young women and girls. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam
"She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. "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.". 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. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. "I had a ton of flashbacks. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office.
Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park Webcams "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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 Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? 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 United States government will pay more than $10 million to the family of a Ugandan human rights activist who was decapitated in a 2020 accident at Arches National Park in Utah. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding.
National Park 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. WebDENVER The family of a Denver woman, who was killed when the entrance gate at Arches National Park swung into the passenger compartment of a rental car and decapitated her, 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 gate barely missed Michaud. 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. 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.
Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park "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. 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.
future Oprah or Princess Diana Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. 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.
NPS faces wrongful death claim after newlywed decapitated by Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path.
Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utahs Arches National Park This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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. 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. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. 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. 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 "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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 Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. She and Michaud were married in March. 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. Arches National Park is best known for its Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. 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.
Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Music, radio and podcasts, all free. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to 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. 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. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking..
National Park At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. 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. 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 Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. 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. McGinn said if her life hadn't been cut short that Nakajjigo's trajectory suggested she would have gone on to become a non-profit CEO who could eventually have netted an annual income in the hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions. 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. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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.". 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.
Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages.
Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. A gavel.
Arches National Park One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. Legal Statement. More Videos Next up in 5 She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. 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. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner.
Denver man files claim after wife decapitated by Utah park gate However, she eventually became the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda, which emphasized womens empowerment, educational attainment, and equitable access to health care. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Market data provided by Factset. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. 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. Its near it but not there. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud.
Widower Struggles With Loss After Wife Decapitated By Gate In While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. Michaud, of Denver, 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. 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. 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 show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. 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 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. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. 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. 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. 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. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. / CBS Colorado. 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. 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. 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.
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 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. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. "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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. The three people involved were related, Brown said. 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. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. "How do you measure someone like her? The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. 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. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. "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. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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 shes done, Michaud said. Several dozen per day. 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. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. 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. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. 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. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. 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 The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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