arches national park gate death video arches national park gate death video

He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. 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. 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. "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. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. Last month, Nakajjigos husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents filed a $270 million wrongful-death claim a precursor to a formal lawsuit alleging that the gate should have been secured to prevent it from swinging into the road. 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. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, it's going to happen again," he said. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. 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 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. All rights reserved. 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. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. 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. The park which has over 2000 arches that Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. Example video title will go here for this video. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. 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 show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. 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. 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. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. More Videos Next up in 5 Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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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, and the two traveled to Arches to celebrate the one-year anniversary of when they first met on a dating app. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. 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. 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. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. ", "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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Music, radio and podcasts, all free. 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. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. WebThe family of a womens rights activist who was killed in a gruesome accident at a national park is suing a US agency over her tragic death. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. 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. 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. 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.". All rights reserved. or redistributed. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. 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. 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 most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. She and Michaud were married in March. Several dozen per day. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. 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Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. Arches National Park is best known for its If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. Ryan Farrick is a freelance writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. "How do you measure someone like her? One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. 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. 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. "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. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. All rights reserved. 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. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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. 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 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. 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. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. 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, All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. 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. 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. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. 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. Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. Family photo. 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. WebSALT LAKE CITY Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something 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. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.".