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. John Ssenkindu, Esther's brother, told journalists that her sister was hit by a metallic gate of the Arches National Park in the US . "On behalf of the United States, we again extend our condolences to Ms. Nakajjigos friends, family and beloved community. None. 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. One series reportedly had a weekly audience of 6.3 million viewers. Sign up today. You wouldnt able to detect it or see it, she told Fox 13. The suit was filed last. Family of Ugandan activist who was decapitated at UT national park gets Nakajjigo was decapitated after wind swung an untethered metal gate into her car, killing her immediately as her husband sat in the seat next to her. An activist's dreams 'were about to come true.' Then, a horrific sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. Donate to the newsroom now. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Yet park employees could have done a lot, the claim alleges, including taking note during inspections of the gate that it posed a danger and putting an inexpensive padlock on it. 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. A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife. Mr Michaud and Ms Nakajjigos family have filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the National Park Service of negligence, Fox 13 reports. Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. The National Park Service did not respond to repeated inquiries from NBC News, nor did Arches National Park Chief Ranger Scott Brown. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Her husband, Michaud, is seeking $240 million in damages from the National Park Service, while Nakajjigo's family is seeking $30 million. 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. 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. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . 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.". Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Family of activist decapitated by swinging gate at Utah park is awarded sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. 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. Photo: Esther Nakajjigo/Twitter. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. "Because (Nakajjigo) is off the charts, you can't use the charts to evaluate her," McGinn said. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo's husband and parents initially filed a $270 million claim against the National Park Service in 2021 over her death This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. 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. Courtesy of. 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,. Something went wrong, please try again later. The U.S. government has admitted responsibility for Nakajjigos death and for the emotional distress inflicted upon her husband, an attorney for the plaintiffs said. 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 gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Picture: Handout The family of a women's 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. Esther Nakajjigo lost her life when she was decapitated at an entrance to Arches National Park in Utah back in June. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. I couldnt work properly for a couple of months. Nakajjigo's family sued the government for the largest federal award ever asked for in both state and national history, according to plaintiffs' attorney Randi McGinn, seeking $140 million in damages. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. Michaud, Nakajjigo's husband, spoke about the intense trauma he's endured since his wife's death, including sleeplessness, nightmares and suicidal ideation. But U.S. Attorney Amanda Berndt said while there's no question that the plaintiffs are entitled to a reward, a proper calculation of Nakajjigo's lost earnings must include the possibility that she might have left the workforce at some point for a variety of reasons. Woman decapitated by metal gate in front of her horrified husband in 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. There is a lot of small things I miss.. 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 US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. 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. 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. The family of a women's rights activist from Uganda has filed a $270 million administrative claim against the National Park Service after she was killed by an . Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. She was subsequently named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. Monday's closing arguments focused heavily on the differences in testimony made by several economic experts, two of whom projected that Nakajjigo would have earned at least $9 million in her lifetime and the third who estimated Nakajjigo would have made between about $750,000 and $938,000. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M - CBS News "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 society's future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates or Oprah Winfrey," read the initial claim from Nakajjigo's husband and family. A woman who had married her husband only three months ago has died after a horror crash saw a car park gate swing through the couple's car and cut off her head. 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. "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. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Esther Nakajjigo was a prominent Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in Utah's Arches National Park in 2020. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. 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.. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park | 9news.com 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 time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. 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. / CBS Colorado. Theres a newsletter that went out to all the parks and the National Park Service that warned of this decades ago. Esther Nakajjigo was driving with her newlywed husband on their honeymoon in Arches when an open road gate was swung by strong winds into their rental car. We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson 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. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. Nakajjigo, 25, was a Ugandan human rights activist and moved to Colorado in 2019 to attend the Watson Institute in Boulder. 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. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Continuing her work brings him hope; he's already started a nonprofit in her name, the Esther Nakajjigo Foundation. "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. But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. Esther Nakajjigo was killed at Arches National Park in 2020. Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utah's Arches National Park | news New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder. Esther Nakajjigo, a native of Uganda, accomplished more at age 25 than most do in a lifetime. Accident claims Ugandan activist Nakajjigo in US - New Vision 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. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. 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.