The National Park Service has, in fact, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous condition for its park invitees, the claim reads, noting three other instances since 1988 in which people in cars were killed by such gates. 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. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). 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. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. 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. 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. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigo's family, on Monday described the death in gruesome detail. Around 2 p.m., they were driving to get ice cream in the town of Moab when the gate swung into their path. The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state our community can better understand itself. Two peopledied Friday while hikinginArches National Park in Utah. One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. NPS faces wrongful death claim after newlywed decapitated by Fiery tanker crash kills driver, burns Maryland homes, Trapped Californians rescued from snow, helped by neighbors, Palo Alto: Woman killed in single-vehicle motorcycle crash, Dear Abby: I love my wife but I think I better get divorced, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: She has gone too far with the remote work option, Bobcat seen using Highway 17 wildlife crossing hours after it opens, Authorities: Man bombed PG&E transformers in South San Jose, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Dear Abby: I was always in the back seat, one way or another, William backed Harry and Meghan's eviction, prefers brother never 'set foot in England again', Map in Murdaugh murder case: 5 deaths and a mysterious shooting, Ask Amy: I didn't ask for what I wanted, and I'm sad they couldn't guess, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. FOX 13 Investigates: Grisly decapitation of ambassador at Arches Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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, attorney Randi McGinn said in a statement announcing the award. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. Listen online or download the iHeart App. On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. By the time Nakajjigo left Uganda to pursue a fully-funded leadership course in Denver, she had raised enough money to build health care facilities in her hometown. At 17, She was named an Ambassador for Uganda's Women girls by nonprofit organization IREX. In the courts ruling, Judge Jenkins awarded $9.5 million to Nakajjigos husband, $700,000 to her mother, and $350,000 to her father. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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. According to CBS News, neither the U.S. government nor the Nakajjigo family disputed the facts of the claim. The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch which Is in Archs National Park. Webcams 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. That same year, she was awarded the Woman Achiever Award from the United Nations Population Fund. While the Nakajjigo family had initially sought more in compensatory damages, their attorneys celebrated the judgment, saying that it isby farthe largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". Nakajjigo, adds CBS, had grown up in poverty. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in She and Michaud were married in March. 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. Video Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. 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. Trial to begin for human rights activist killed by gate in Arches The claim argues that an $8 padlock or proper maintenance would have prevented the death. RELATED: Search of Aurora house in case of missing teen Lashaya Stine continues, RELATED: Head brewer at Denver Beer Co. dies in climbing accident, SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Local stories from 9NEWS. 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. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate 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. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. WebVideo 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 Esther Nakajjigo a human-rights advocate from Uganda who was studying at a leadership institute in Colorado was killed instantly in the June 13 incident. ", First published on November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM. Both claims ask for $15 million in damages for wrongful death. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Arches National Park She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. 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. 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 newlywed couples road trip to Arches National Park in Utah ended in tragedy when a metal gate at the park exit swung across the road and decapitated the 25-year-old woman as she rode in a car. Arches National Park accident: Esther Nakajjigo's family awarded This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. 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. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. 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. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. Elon Musk Wins Funding Secured Shareholder Lawsuit, Blog vs YouTube Over Other Websites: How to Choose, Behind the Story of Ghostbed vs. Purple Mattress Lawsuit, Investigation Reveals Goodyears Dunlop D402 Tires Have Caused Dozens of Motorcycle Accidents, Amputees Third Attempt at Holding Medical Personnel Responsible Pays Off.

Mosaic Web Browser Emulator, They Were Not A Handsome Family Analysis, Articles A