They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. 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.". Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. Several dozen per day. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. 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. 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. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Its near it but not there. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The humanitarian had traveled to the US to further her studies and was awarded with the Luff Peace Fellowship by the University of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. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. / CBS Colorado. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. They said claims by the familys lawyers that Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time of her death, was on track to be a non-profit CEO shortly were too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. (CCA-BY-2.0). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. 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. "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. 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 most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. 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. 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. 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 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. ", "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. "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. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. 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. Courtesy All rights reserved. She and Michaud were married in March. 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. 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. The gate barely missed Michaud. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. 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. 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 webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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 married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. Please enter valid email address to continue. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. 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. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. 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. Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Legal Statement. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. 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. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. 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.. 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. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. While the Nakajjigo family had initially sought more in compensatory damages, their attorneys celebrated the judgment, saying that it isby farthe largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Provided by (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com 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 Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. 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. 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 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. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. "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.". Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. 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 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. "How do you measure someone like her?