arches national park gate death video

arches national park gate death video

The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Courtesy Webcam Entrance Station Webcam ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. 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. 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. Its near it but not there. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. 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 Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "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. Nakajjigo, who grew up in Uganda, had been recognized since she was a teenager for her work promoting health services and education for young women and girls. They were married in March 2020 and headed to Arches on a belated honeymoon as soon as the park reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. Arches National Park, which has more than 2,000 natural stone arches,closed Delicate Arch on Friday for a about six hours before it reopened, the parksaid on Twitter. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. The claim also argues that NPS regularly uses gates constructed "out of metal pipes with spear-like sharp ends," and that Arches National Park had "a set of these metal pipe gates with lance-like sharp ends at the entrance/exit of the park. 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. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. The gate is just before the visitors center as drivers leave the park, near Moab, Utah. 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. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. She also created a popular reality television series that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her husband of three months when the gate swung across the road and struck their car on June 13, 2020. "I had a ton of flashbacks. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". She was named the country's ambassador for women and girls soon after, and passionately advocated to reduce teen pregnancy and increase educational opportunities for Ugandan women. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". 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. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. Chang has filed a $270 million claim for wrongful death. Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. She was decapitated. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling 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. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. "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. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. 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. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. 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. 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.. (CCA-BY-2.0). The three people involved were related, Brown said. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. 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. 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. The pair married in March of this year. Legal Statement. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. She and Michaud were married in March. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. 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. 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. Her husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents in October filed a $270 million wrongful-death claim a precursor to the formal lawsuit alleging that the gate should have been secured to prevent it from swinging into the road. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. She's done more at the age of 25 than most people do in their entire lives," she said. All rights reserved. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Web6 Esther Nakajjigo was a Ugandan human rights activist and newlywed wife when the 25-year-old was killed at Arches National Park in 2020, decapitated by an unsecured gate that is 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. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. 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.". or redistributed. The young Ugandan human rights activist was decapitated by an unsecured metal gate on the periphery of Arches National Park. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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 webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. 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. 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. You may experience delays during the busy season between March and October and on holiday weekends. We just dont want this to ever happen again, Michaud said in an interview Thursday. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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. 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. He told NBC that the harrowing accident has left him traumatized, and he continues to suffer from PTSD months after. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. 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. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. Legal Statement. Nakajjigo gained national attention in Uganda and created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to the claim. WebThe family of Ugandan philanthropist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated by a traffic gate in front of her husband in Arches National Park in Utah, has been awarded $10.5m. The She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. 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. Listen online or download the iHeart App. 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 "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. Both of Nakijjijo's parents, who listed their addresses as Kamapala, Uganda, have also filed wrongful death claims. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. 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. 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. 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. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Upon leaving, an unsecured metal gate swung into the road, killing Nakajjigo who was sitting in the passenger seat. Example video title will go here for this video. Please enter valid email address to continue. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Traffic may back up between the entrance station and US 191. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. 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. 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. 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. WebSALT LAKE CITY Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something 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. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. 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The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who is originally from Paris but now lives in Denver. "The most important thing for me is to try continuing what she's done," Michaud said to The Associated Press. All rights reserved. "I'm still trying to figure out how to move forward, how to wake up in the morning. 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. Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. Provided by 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 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. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. The most important thing for me is to try continuing what shes done, Michaud said. According to the claim, 25-year-old Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while sitting in the passenger seat of a car that was exiting Arches National Park. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. More by The Associated Press, Got a story tip? If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. 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 gate barely missed Michaud. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. 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. She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. Nakajjigo grew up in Uganda and at 17 was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women shed donated her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center that provided free reproductive health services to young women. WebAccording to the claim, 25-year-old Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while sitting in the passenger seat of a car that was exiting Arches National Park. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. 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.

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