arches national park gate death video

He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. The "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. WebWhen I went to Arches National Park in 2021, I got turned around at the gate. 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 claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. The park which has over 2000 arches that Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. 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. 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According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. 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. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. 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. We take pride in exposing the hypocrisy of corporations, other organizations, and individuals whose actions put innocent people in harms way. A gavel. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. 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. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. 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. 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. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo Its near it but not there. 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. 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. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. 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. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. Legal Statement. 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, and the two traveled to Arches to celebrate the one-year anniversary of when they first met on a dating app. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. 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. Provided by 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 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. "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.". 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, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. 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. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. 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. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. Market data provided by Factset. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. No An official form of the United States government. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. 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. They married about three months prior. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. 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. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. 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. 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. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. (CCA-BY-2.0). All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. 4 hospitalized in San Pedro beach shooting, Angelino Heights plagued by street racing, residents, SoCal man convicted of rape, molestation attacks, Weekend clouds make way for sunshine by midweek, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, CA awaits key decisions from reparations task force, LAPD looking for autistic man last seen in downtown, Ducks assistant coach diagnosed with melanoma, LAPD searching for driver in fatal San Pedro hit-and-run, 1 killed amid turbulence event on business jet, Grizzlies Morant to miss Clippers, Lakers games, Festival of Whales returns to Dana Point Harbor, AlienCon attracting space enthusiasts to Pasadena, Folks near Jack Daniels facility see whiskey fungus. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. It's known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches, 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, Newlywed 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. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. More Videos Next up in 5 He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", "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. Legal Statement. 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. 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 WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. 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. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Ludovic Michaud was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something unthinkable happened: A metal gate whipped around, sliced through the passenger door of his car and decapitated his new 25-year-old wife, Esther Nakajjigo. 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 show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. Listen online or download the iHeart App. 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. 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. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. 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. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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 While growing up in Uganda, Nakajjigo used her college tuition funds to open up a nonprofit community education center in her home country. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. 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. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. 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. All rights reserved. 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. "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. All rights reserved. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam Several dozen per day. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. "She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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. 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. 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.

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