deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. When he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw his beheaded wife. Family of activist decapitated by swinging gate at Utah park is awarded Esther Nakajjigo was killed at Arches National Park in 2020. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park | 9news.com The claim alleged that had park employees used an $8 padlock to secure the gate from moving in the breeze, it could have avoided the victim being "needlessly decapitated.". Mr Michaud and Ms Nakajjigos family have filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the National Park Service of negligence, Fox 13 reports. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigo's death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan women's rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. Trial opens in death of woman killed by metal gate in Utah | wltx.com Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. 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But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. The lawsuit was filed about a year after Nakajjigo was killed in June 2020, when wind apparently caused the unsecured, metal gate on the parks main road to swing around and strike her and her husbands car, decapitating her. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los Angeles Times The family are arguing that the US Park Service was negligent and did not properly maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to their loved one's death. She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. Nakajjigo was killed instantly. The smaller projection takes into account only the averages of a statistical black woman, she said; while the higher projections factor in that Nakajjigo was a real, extraordinary person. Nakajjigo had been celebrated for using money earmarked for her college tuition to instead open a nonprofit community health center in Uganda at age 17. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death The ruling was. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. 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. Instead, "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter." Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Seven people have been rushed to hospital after severe turbulence on a flight led to an emergency landing. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. "The National Park Service has, in fact, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous condition," the claim states. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. There is a lot of small things I miss.. "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigos friends, family and beloved community. NBC wrote that Nakajjigo had come to the United States to further her education, participating in programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia as a Mandela Washington Fellow and at the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colo., where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship., Michaud, originally of France, was uninjured in the accident, but, according to NBCs report, has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder., Donate to the newsroom now. 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. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Family of newlywed woman 'DECAPITATED by metal gate' at Utah national The National Park Service has not commented in relation to the new lawsuit but has previously released a statement expressing sympathy for the young womans death. Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in Arches For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. $10.5 million awarded to family of Denver woman killed at Arches You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was driving around the stunning Arches National Park in Utah, US, in 2020 along with her husband Ludovic Michaud when the unthinkable happened. In his ten-page verdict, U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Jenkins said the government admitted fault and apologized for Nakajjigos death. / CBS Colorado. Attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos parents asked for $140 million in damages, while the government said an appropriate award would be roughly $3.5 million. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. Courtesy of. Even simple tasks like cooking rice stored in a jar that Nakajjigo bought before her death feel paralyzing, he said. Esther Nakajjigo was beheaded after the wind whipped a metal gate round cutting into the passenger side of the car, Esther Nakajjigo with her husband Ludovic Michaud, A picture of the gates that led to the young woman's death. Denver woman killed during visit to Arches National Park She was named as Ugandas ambassador for women and girls and received an award from the United Nations after she used her university tuition money to start a non-profit community centre that offered free healthcare to girls and women aged 10 to 24. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her . At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death The wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. Nakajjigo was a women's rights champion in her home country of Uganda; she founded a nonprofit community health center using her college tuition money, and created two reality TV shows centered around empowering women. "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. All rights reserved. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. "We want you to know, on behalf of the United States, this accident and Essie's death was the responsibility of the United States," Nelson told Michaud. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate at In the opening statements of the wrongful death lawsuit, attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos family recounted the moment Michaud realised his wife had been killed. SALT LAKE CITY The United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal judge ruled Monday. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. "On behalf of the family, we are very appreciative of the judge's attention to detail, the time he spent working on this, and for the value he put on the loss to this family of Essie," added Littlepage. The federal trial began Monday in Utah, where the husband and family of Nakajjigo are seeking $140 million in damages from the U.S. government, arguing in a complaint that the national park was negligent and failed to properly maintain the gate. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. Her dreams were just about to come true, Chang said. The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific She later created a pair of reality television shows designed to empower women. Arches National Park Being Sued For $270M After Gate Decapitated Guest Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms. Family awarded $10.5M in Utah park death | Las Vegas Review-Journal The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Disputing the family's claims the victim was on track to become the CEO of a non-profit who could eventually have netted an annual income in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. The French national said he and his wife, who had only been married for three months and lived in Denver, Colorado, had been on a hike and had lunch before driving out of the park. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. 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. Ms Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludo Michaud, 26, were driving out of the scenic parks carpark when wind caught the unlatched gate and the metal pole on top sliced through the side of their rental car and hit Ms Nakajjigo in the head and neck, killing her instantly. Nakajigos family and Michaud are suing the U.S. government for negligence as well as negligent infliction of emotional distress on the part of Michaud, who had to witness the grisly scene. Ludovic Michaud, the husband of late human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, has filed a $270 million wrongful death administrative claim against the National Park Service, according to a report by NBC News, following a June accident at Arches National Park near Moab. Nothing we can say makes up for your loss. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. 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. 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,. The family of a human rights activist killed in a freak accident at Utah's Arches State Park won $10.5 million in damages from the U.S. government. Newlywed woman decapitated by car park entrance gate blown open in high 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. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! It impaled their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. National parks begin to reopen across the country. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal judge ruled Monday. 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. I found her really interesting. One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. Ms McGinn described Nakajjigo as a prominent womens rights activist who rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women around issues such as education and healthcare. 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. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. 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. The gate had been unsecured for the previous two weeks, despite national park requirements that prohibit gates from swinging, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court. 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. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. According to the official statement from Wilson Jaga, the communications head for the office of the Ugandan Women and Girls, Nakajjigo was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park due. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. It's really a full-time job," he said. Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again, Michaud said. 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. ", In 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 and cut her head off, according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. According to NBC, the claim was served Oct. 22, and alleges that if park employees had properly installed the gate to not swing into oncoming traffic or placed an $8 padlock on the gate to secure it from moving in the breeze, the world would not have lost a young woman influencer destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates, or Oprah Winfrey.. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. A lot of things remind me of her, Michaud told the. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. Its a fear of erasing her, I guess, when you use something that she bought or that she ate or that we did together.. The familys lawyer Deborah Chang said the gate struck the car so suddenly and was so well blended into the surrounding landscape the honeymooning couple had no chance of avoiding it. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. Accident claims Ugandan activist Nakajjigo in US - New Vision (Julie Jacobson | AP file photo) A Denver man has filed a $270 million wrongful death claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, against the National Park Service after a metal gate at Arches National Park collided collided with his car on June 13, killing his wife. Denver woman's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death He spoke, too, about the difficulty of sending his wife's body to Uganda in a cardboard box; how only her hands, one of them broken, were visible at her funeral; and how he moved to a new apartment after the accident, unable to bear the reminders of the life he'd shared with Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo donated her own college fund to start a hospital, Berndt said; she raised money for charities and never took a salary. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. 2023 EHM Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Nakajjigo received numerous international accolades and awards and had come to the United States to further her education, participating in programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia as a Mandela Washington Fellow and at the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death minutes. Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. He smiled at some points as he shared photos and memories of happier times affectionate birthday cards, silly nicknames, meals cooked together, the rose petals Nakajjigo arranged into the shape of a heart with an "I" and a "U" on either side. 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.. Sign up today. Michaud said he and Nakajjigo were two weeks shy of closing on a condo when the accident occurred, with hopes of owning a house down the road. Human 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. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated at Arches National Park in Utah after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her car, killing her immediately as her husband sat in the seat next to her. In 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 and cut her. Esther Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud at Arches National Park in eastern Utah. Michaud and his in-laws are asking a federal judge for $140 million. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than . Ms Nakajjigo met Mr Michaud after she relocated to the US, where she was awarded the Luff Peace Fellowship by the University of Boulder in Colorado. Ludovic Michaud, the husband of late human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, has filed a $270 million wrongful death administrative claim against the National Park Service, according to a. The family of a Ugandan young girl child activist, Esther Nakajjigo who died in the United States of America (USA) have asked government to help them repatriate her body, to be accorded a decent burial. Its known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. Fox13 reports the metal. 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. Instead, the Utah park became the site of a horrific accident that killed her. 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.