The administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. in the two-plus years since his wife, Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo, was hit and killed by an unsecured gate while the couple was leaving Arches National Park. The family says under federal park rules, similar gates should be secured, but the gate that struck Ms Nakajjigo had been unlatched for weeks, Fox 13 reports. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. 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. The sum they are seeking has not been disclosed, however a previous claim filed by the family against the National Park Service which is the step before a lawsuit can be filed asked for more than $A351 million. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los 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. After seeing a pregnant 14-year-old girl die during a difficult delivery, Nakajjigo decided to use her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center that provided free reproductive health services to females aged 10-24. 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. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. Instead, Michaud met his wife's family -- who traveled to the States from Uganda -- for the first time just before the trial started. It claims three other people have died from similar incidents involving gates in the last 32 years. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. 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. 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. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. The. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax On Monday, a federal judge in Utah ruled that the U.S. government must pay her family more than $10 million in damages. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death They had wanted three children. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Fox13 reports the metal. On June 13, 2020, Nakajjigo, who was riding in the passenger seat as her husband drove them out of the park, was suddenly decapitated when the triangular, metal gate swung around and sliced into their rental car. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. Lindsay Whitehurst/AP Denver newlyweds' trip to Arches National Park ends with wife's Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. 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. 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. Denver man files suit after wife's death at National Park - KMGH 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. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death While much less than they were initially seeking, the family was clearly pleased with the results -- with attorney Zoe Littlepage calling the amount "the largest verdict from a federal judge in Utah history.". Mail that Nakajjigo has continued to receive after her death has been a stark reminder of the life they should still be enjoying together. 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. $10.5 million awarded to family of Denver woman killed at Arches Instead, "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter." Itd be like me pointing a piece of paper to you on its most narrow side. 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 . Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in Arches She was also awarded a full scholarship from the king of Buganda. 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. 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 of Woman Killed at Arches National Park Awarded $10.5M "You bear no responsibility. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. 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. Ugandan newlywed Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was visiting Arches National Park in Utah in June 2020 when she was struck and killed by a metal pole attached to a traffic control gate. 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. The metal gate at Arches National Park, normally secured with a lock, was left untethered. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. Testimony ends in trial of Ugandan woman decapitated in Arches National Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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, a 25-year-old Ugandan activist who'd moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder, died June 13, 2020, while visiting the park with her husband of two You wouldnt able to detect it or see it.. 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. Chang expects to file the lawsuit in about six months. Family of newlywed woman 'DECAPITATED by metal gate' at Utah national Berndt said her team in no way believes Nakajjigo was an average person, and that using reliable data to estimate her lost earnings isn't a value judgment of Nakajjigo. 72 Join Insider . Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Her mother flew to Utah from Uganda to attend the trial this week. $140M trial begins over death of Ugandan woman killed in Utah park 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 now at the center of a wrongful death trial. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. She met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. The familys lawsuit claims when the national parks reopened in April 2020 after being shuttered due to Covid-19, rangers at the national park in Utah didnt 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. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. "I'm doing whatever I can to get better. Donate to the newsroom now. The suit was filed last. 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. 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.. The family of a womens rights activist who was decapitated in an accident on a trip with her new husband has sued the US government agency responsible for the park where she died. 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. Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. The end of that trial came Monday, but a verdict is still pending. All rights reserved. The claim describes Nakajjigos final moments in graphic detail and says the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter.. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death John Ssenkindu, Esther's brother, told journalists that her sister was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park in the US . Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Trial begins in civil suit filed for accidental beheading death at Arches, National Park Service faces $270M wrongful death claim for death at Arches, 6 people arrested following drive-by shooting in Iron County, Man struck, killed by FrontRunner in Clearfield, Legislative wrap: Under-the-radar bills you may have missed on the last day of the session, Northern Utah man faces 30 felonies in child pornography case, 15-year-old boy dies after being found in crashed car with gunshot wounds, Pennsylvania unseals more court document details in Idaho killings, Provo River diverted as restoration project reaches 'major milestone', 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Do not 'push a slower friend down' if you encounter a bear, National Park Service warns, CDC issues advisory after confirmed measles case in Kentucky, Police say man killed by Farmington officers had gun; victim's mom filed suit over other traffic stop, 27% of Utah students are chronically absent. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". Nelson, the governments attorney, has said an appropriate award would be $3.5million (2.9m). 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. Estimated read time: 5-6 They were driving toward the exit when suddenly a gust of wind lifted a metal gate and the arm swung into the roadway. IE 11 is not supported. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death In pink tops and white pants, women celebrate free period products becoming available in Utahs state buildings, Proposal to boost Utah bar licenses gets smaller with another round of cuts by lawmakers, Moab, Park City cry foul as Utah lawmakers target rules for vacation homes. Esther Nakajjigo was born in poverty in Kampala, Uganda, and rose to become a celebrated human rights activist through her work focusing on preventing teen pregnancy. "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. I found her really interesting. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her . Michaud and his in-laws are asking a federal judge for $140 million. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. 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. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. 45 Join Insider . None. A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. FOX 13 Investigates: Family sues over death of woman killed in Arches The 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. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. In pink tops and white pants, women celebrate free period products becoming available in Utahs state buildings, Proposal to boost Utah bar licenses gets smaller with another round of cuts by lawmakers, Moab, Park City cry foul as Utah lawmakers target rules for vacation homes. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. 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. According to the claim, Michaud, of Denver, and Nakajjigo, a womens rights proponent from Uganda, were exiting the Arches parking lot on June 13 when a metal gate on the entrance road near the visitors center swung into the couples car, causing Nakajigo to be needlessly decapitated.. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award," the claim states. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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 created a reality TV show that helped child mothers stay in school and develop life skills, according to The Denver Post. Attorneys for the government have not disputed that park officials are at fault but instead have disputed how much the family should be awarded. Nakajjigo worked on fundraising to open a hospital in an underserved part of Kampala, Ugandas capital, became a philanthropic celebrity and immigrated to the United States for a fellowship at the Boulder, Colorado-based Watson Institute for emerging leaders. Mr Michaud and Ms Nakajjigos family have filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the National Park Service of negligence, Fox 13 reports. Accident claims Ugandan activist Nakajjigo in US - New Vision

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