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

Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. 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. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. She'd come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. Several dozen per day. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. Market data provided by Factset. 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. 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. 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. 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 Its near it but not there. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com The 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. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. NEW YORK POLICE SERGEANT FATALLY STRUCK IN WRONG-WAY CRASH. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. WebEsther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. 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. Family photo. A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was 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. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. 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. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. 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. Listen online or download the iHeart App. 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. 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. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. All rights reserved. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. 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. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. Legal Statement. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Courtesy Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. A gavel. She and Michaud were married in March. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. The pair married in March of this year. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. 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. 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. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. 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. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The gate barely missed Michaud. Michaud's filing clears the path for a full lawsuit, which is expected to be served within the coming months. ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. "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.". Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. 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 couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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! Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 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. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. 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. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. The park which has over 2000 arches that 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. 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. 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. 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.". She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. 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. "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. 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. 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. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. GRAND COUNTY, Utah A 27-year-old Denver man filed a wrongful death claim against the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) on Oct. 22 after it says his wife was decapitated by a vehicle gate at Arches National Park in Grand County, Utah. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. "How do you measure someone like her? WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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 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, 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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 FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". 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. 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 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. 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. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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 Last updated: August 16, 2022 Was this page helpful? He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. According to CBS News, Esther Essie Nakajjigo was killed after a metal gate at Arches sliced through the passenger side of the vehicle driven by her newlywed husband. 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. No An official form of the United States government. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. 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. 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. DENVER (AP) 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. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. "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. 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. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. 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. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. 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. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. "I had a ton of flashbacks. 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. Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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, wrote Chang, who plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected.. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. The couple was on their way to get ice cream when "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter," according to the claim, which was obtained by NBC News. 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. All rights reserved. She married Michaud in March, just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, 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. 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 trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo 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 $8.00 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. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. The three people involved were related, Brown said. 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. 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. 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. 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