As the couple was leaving the park, gusts of wind swung the gate around rapidly, enough to slice through the passenger side door of the couples car, decapitating Nakajjigo as her husband sat feet away in the drivers seat. A video tribute to his wife showed her talking about her name, in an earlier recording. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. It could have happened to anyone and if nothing is done, its going to happen again, he said. Trying To Figure Out How To Move Forward: Widower Of Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate At Arches National Park Struggles After Trauma. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement, saying it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. But when she met Michaud in June 2019 in Aurora, Colorado, through a dating app, he just saw her as a smart person who loved to laugh. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah - Trial began Monday, Dec. 5 for the death of Ugandan women's activist Esther Nakajjigo, who died after a gate at Arches National Park swung open and decapitated her.The family is in federal court with a $140million-dollar wrongful lawsuit and personal claim lawsuit against the National Park Service.The U.S. already admitted responsibility for the wrongful death . 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, Randi McGinn, the familys attorney said in a statement. The wind whipped a metal. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. Nakajjigos family will have to show her death was caused by more than negligence, said James C. Kozlowski, an associate professor of recreation management at George Mason University who studies legal issues in the outdoor industry. According to Deborah Chang, the Los Angeles-based trial attorney representing Michaud, there was nothing he could have done to swerve out of the way of the gate that killed his wife and narrowly missed him. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. Illinois highway pile-up causes multiple deaths, police say, Trump motion to declare mistrial in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit denied, Transgender Montana lawmaker Zooey Zephyr sues over censure, Debt ceiling standoff heats up over veterans' programs, U.S. tracking high-altitude balloon first spotted off Hawaii, Biden administration ending vaccine mandate for federal workers, travelers, The weirdest items passengers leave behind in Ubers. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and, on the edge of Arches, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on a windy summer day in 2020 when a piece of a metal gate from Utah's Arches National Park broke through the passenger door and decapitated her - and now her husband. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. Mail that Nakajjigo has continued to receive after her death has been a stark reminder of the life they should still be enjoying together. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Michaud and his in-laws previously filed a claim with the National Park Service a step toward filing the lawsuit asking for $270 million. The couple, who lived together in Denver, Colorado, were exiting the park on June 13 to get ice cream when a metal gate swung loose and pierced their car, the newspaper continued. Ludovic said he knows the suit won't bring his beloved wife back, but he wants to make sure the same type of tragic accident doesn't happen to anyone else. Liability is the exception rather than the rule, Kozlowski said. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential. "Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a women's rights champion in Uganda. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. What it means to be a woman in the world's largest refugee settlement..it means you don't own anything not even your body. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. Its a fear of erasing her, I guess, when you use something that she bought or that she ate or that we did together, he said. She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart, said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigos husband. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Other reasons for that sum is who Nakajjigo was and what she. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. Michaud, who hails from France, told the station during his first interview since his wifes death that he just saw her as a smart person who loved to laugh.. Shes done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives, she said. SALT LAKE CITY The family of human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated in an accident in Arches National Park, has sued the National Park Service. One also took place on federal government property in the 80s, the outlet continued, when a U.S. Forest Service road closure gate impaled a California camper. Just as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S., Michaud, a video streaming technology solution architect who is originally from France, and Nakajjigo decided they wanted to marry. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the Salt Lake Tribune. The suit was filed last . A federal judge this week awarded $10.5 million to the family of a Denver woman. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time, was needlessly decapitated, according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News. Randy Rost was injured when the camper pickup truck in which he was riding was impaled on a piece of gate in the Stanislaus National Forest, California, according to a court document. I found her really interesting. In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. DENVER -- 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 to Arches National Park that claimed the life of his beloved wife, Esther Nakajjigo. The. Here's how. Esther Nakajjigo, age 25, of Denver, Colorado passed away on Saturday June 13, 2020. The Associated Press contributed to this report. At age 17, she used her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center, which provided free reproductive health services to young women and girls. Esther Nakajjigo was exiting the park June 13 when the sharp end of a freely swinging gate pierced her car, killing Nakajjigo and narrowly missing her husband. The United States will pay family members of Esther Nakajjigo, a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal judge ruled . He didnt know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. "The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Uganda's 'Young Personality of the Year,'" the Post reported. "I went from the best time of my life to the worst, in one second," he said. The trip to the wind-weathered sandstone of Arches National Park was supposed to be a celebration a chance for Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, to show his new wife one of his favorite landmarks. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and, on the edge of Arches, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 This decision serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and safety measures in our national parks, so as to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, Michaud said in a statement to CBS News on Monday. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Nakajjigo accomplished more by age 25 than most people do in a lifetime. Ludovic 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 passenger door of. SALT LAKE CITY A judge awarded $10.2 million to the family and spouse of Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo, who was killed by an unsecured gate at Arches National Park in 2020.. Nakajjigo, 25, a women's rights activist from Uganda, was killed when driving in Arches National Park with Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud during a camping trip on June 13, 2020. She 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, and had successfully raised funds to build health care facilities in her hometown. The couple was leaving a park parking lot to get ice cream when a metal traffic control gate swung into the road, piercing the passenger side of the couples rental car and severing Nakajjigos head. Nakajjigo was not sure where she wanted to work whether it was in the U.S., back in Uganda or elsewhere but Michaud was willing to follow her wherever she could continue to make the most impact. 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 the US National Parks Service seeking . The trial gave me and Essies family members an opportunity to tell Essies beautiful story, and it was so important to me to have the chance to stand up and speak for this amazing woman.. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Nakajjigo family. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. But rather a sex object, a cola to quench sexual thirst of sex-hungry men who have power and control in the refugee settlements. 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. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. @ArielleHarrison https://t.co/YoCT50YObz. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, the husband of Esther Nakajjigo told NBC News in an exclusive interview. In the court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, Chang described the gates as the same color as the landscape. At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.. The plaintiffs contend multiple federal policies require such gates to be secured, but that the gate near the visitors center at Arches was unlatched for two weeks before it struck Nakajjigo. According to NBC News, Nakajjigo was named as Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The gate was owned by the United States government and anchored on government property., READ NEXT: Famous Rappers Brother Dies From Apparent Suicide, Esther Nakajjigo: Uganda Activist Decapitated in Utah National Park, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah . FOX 13 reported earlier this year how Nakajjigo died June 13, 2020. Its likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. The suit does not specify the amount the plaintiffs are seeking, though it accuses park staff of negligence. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. The same year, Nakajjigo was. It impaled their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent Ugandan human rights activist killed in Arches National Park in 2020. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. Esther Nakajjigo. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. In June, Nakajjigo was visiting the park with her new husband, Ludovic Michaud, Moab Sun News reported. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. Nakajjigo created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essies projects. There have been gate accidents across the country, including another one on federal government property in 1980 in which a camper in California was impaled by a U.S. Forest Service road closure gate. IE 11 is not supported. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Esther Nakajjigo, age 25, of Denver, Colorado passed away on Saturday June 13, 2020. The large monetary damages being sought on behalf of Michaud and Nakajjigos parents are a reflection of the suffering they have gone through plus the loss of Nakajjigos future income and fundraising abilities, Chang said. "It could have happened to the people in front of us, or behind us," he said. The ruling was. Shed come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM She received multiple honors for her humanitarian work and was attending a leadership program in Bolder, Colorado, at the time of her death. "I turned my head and saw what I wish I didn't see.". The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. Nakajjigos family and friends in Uganda started a petition to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Health in the country to make an exception for the young activist, the newspaper continued. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. 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," Randi McGinn, the family's attorney said in a statement. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. She met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. View of the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. At age 17, Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. They argued that had employees installed the gate properly and secured it with an $8 padlock, Nakajjigos death could have been prevented, NBC News reported. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. They argued that had employees installed the gate properly and secured it with an $8 padlock, Nakajjigos death could have been prevented, This decision serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and safety measures in our national parks, so as to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, Michaud said in, on Monday. McGinn, representing Nakajjigos family, likened her to a nonprofit CEO for an American charity and said she would have likely made millions throughout her life. The horror of Nakajjigo's death is one reason Michaud has filed a claim with the National Park Service seeking $270 million. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations, CBS Colorado reported. The young activist participated in programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia as a Mandela Washington Fellow and at the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado as a Luff Peace Fellow, Moab Sun News said. The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.. Twitter But an attorney for her parents and husband said they were grateful for the judgment, which represents the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history, the Associated Press reported. I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were vacationing in eastern Utah, visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. 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. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgment, saying it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. SALT LAKE CITY The family of human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated in an accident in Arches National Park, has sued the National Park Service. 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. "Multiple fatalities" in massive pile-up on Illinois highway, Yellen warns U.S. could default on debt as early as June 1. I dont know how I could stand to see another thing like that happen, and I just want to make sure we do whatever we can to avoid, to save another life.. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Download the app . Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud) Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. Let others know about your loved one's death. They 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 damages. Michaud and Nakajjigo had been married for just under three months when they decided to go see the Arches. A widow and his wife's family are seeking $140 million in damages from the U.S. government more than two years after a woman was killed in a Utah national park. Her husband was not harmed, the station added. 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 "Essie" Nakajjigo. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Im still struggling with that, Michaud said. She was also awarded a full scholarship from the king of Buganda. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. Esther was born April 16, 1995. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Nakajjigo family. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. Her husband was not harmed, the station added. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. According to Moab Sun News, the Ugandan government on April 19 forbade the repatriation of the remains of Ugandans who pass away abroad over fears of the coronavirus. 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. 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. 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. Activist Esther Nakajjigo dies in the U.S NTVUganda 930K subscribers Subscribe 28K views 2 years ago The family of Esther Nakajjigo a Ugandan Activist who died in the US is asking the.
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