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. 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. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. Its near it but not there. 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. 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. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. 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. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com WebDenver 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 Join the conversation! "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. 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 widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". "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. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. 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 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. ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. 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. 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. 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. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. "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. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. "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. By Thomas Peipert, Associated Press 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. Provided by WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. A gavel. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. 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. 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 involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 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. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. 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, or redistributed. / CBS Colorado. 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. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. 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. 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. 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. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to 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. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. 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. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. 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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. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. She described Nakajjigo as a prominent women's rights activist who rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. 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. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. The three people involved were related, Brown said. More Videos Next up in 5 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. 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 "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. 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. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. 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 RELATED: Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". 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. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. A YOUNG activist hailed as a "future Princess Diana or Oprah" for her work was decapitated in a gruesome accident while she and her husband were hiking in Arches National Park. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling They married about three months prior. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. 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.

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