Esther Nakajjigo was a prominent Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in Utah's Arches National Park in 2020. Photo: Esther Nakajjigo/Twitter. 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 Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. 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. The wind whipped a metal. 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. 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 wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. 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. She was always willing to help, he said. Nelson, the governments attorney, has said an appropriate award would be $3.5million (2.9m). Matthew McConaugheys wife was among the passengers on board a Lufthansa flight struck by severe turbulence and has described the chaos. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. 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. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Nakajjigo was. She met Michaud on Tinder in 2019, when she was attending a leadership program in Boulder, Colorado. 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. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death 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 killed instantly. All rights reserved. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. As they were leaving the park on June 13, 2020, heavy winds apparently blew the metal entrance gate into the passenger side of the vehicle, striking and killing Nakajjigo. The United States will pay more than $10 million in damages over the death of Esther Nakajjigo, a prominent . Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. 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 . Seven people have been rushed to hospital after severe turbulence on a flight led to an emergency landing. On June 13, she was needlessly decapitated by a metal gate that swung into the couples car as they were exiting the Arches parking lot on their way to go get ice cream, according to a wrongful death administrative claim exclusively obtained by NBC News. The family of a woman beheaded by a metal gate in front of her husband at a national park has launched a lawsuit for $140million (115m). Trial begins Ugandan woman's death in Arches National Park | 9news.com 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.. Newlywed woman decapitated by car park entrance gate blown open in high Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, pose at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park 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. It 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.. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Testimony ends in trial of Ugandan woman decapitated in Arches National The. Nakajjigos remains were flown back to Uganda in August. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 03:49 PM MST. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. 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 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. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. 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. FILE Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Courtesy of. Nakajjigo donated her own college fund to start a hospital, Berndt said; she raised money for charities and never took a salary. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. US attorneys have said this claim was too speculative to be used as a basis for damages. 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. 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. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. 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. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. Trial begins for woman decapitated at Arches National Park Esther (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. 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. 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 gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. 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. 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. We hope that, in some way, the conclusion of this trial will help with your moving forward.". 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. 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 . Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Posted at 10:15 PM, Nov 12, 2020 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. 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, Randi McGinn, the familys attorney said in a statement. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. "We respect the judges decision and hope this award will help her loved ones as they continue to heal for this tragedy," added the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. 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. Its still hard to concentrate, but I try to.. What if he hadn't suggested the trip. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Accident claims Ugandan activist Nakajjigo in US - New Vision 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 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 . They wed in a courthouse ceremony in March 2020, three months before her death, and had plans to have a big ceremony in Uganda when it was safe to travel again. There have been gate accidents across the country, including another one on federal government property in 1980 in which a camper in California was impaled by a U.S. Forest Service road closure gate. At other points, he dabbed at his eyes; he lived like a student before meeting Nakajjigo, he said, but she turned their apartment into a home. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement . Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. The trial began in December and in court, per the AP, family attorney Randi McGinn reportedly argued Nakajjigo could have eventually brought in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, annually had she survived. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. 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. 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 . There is a lot of small things I miss.. 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. 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 a statement to CBS News on Monday. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do, Can't take statins? Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M - CBS News It feels lonely, and thats hard. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with flashbacks. Family of Ugandan philanthropist decapitated by traffic gate in Arches Attorneys for the government have not disputed that park officials are at fault but instead have disputed how much the family should be awarded. All this building towards the $140million in damages. 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. 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. Family of woman decapitated in Utah national park by swinging gate to 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. $270M Claim Filed Against National Park Service After Woman's Death One of his regrets is not saying, "I love you," one more time. Arches accidental beheading trial ends, but verdict is still pending "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. They argued that had employees installed the gate properly and secured it with an $8 padlock, Nakajjigos death could have been prevented, NBC News reported. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Arches National Park Being Sued For $270M After Gate Decapitated Guest 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. 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Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos.. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking . At age 17, Nakajjigo was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women, according to the claim. He said he didnt deny Nakajjigo was an extraordinary person, but argued it was difficult to speculate what kind of work she would have gone on to do. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5M for Utah park death The lawsuit alleges that a simple $8 padlock could have prevented the gate from swinging, and claims the park violated regulations. I found her really interesting. Because neither the U.S. nor Nakajjigos family disputed the facts of the case, the civil suit focused largely on the amount of damages merited. FOX 13 Investigates: Family sues over death of woman killed in Arches When she was 17, she donated her university tuition money to start a private, nonprofit community health center that she named the Princess Diana Health Centre. 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. They stipulate, however, that the plaintiffs should be awarded $22,508 for Nakajjigo's funeral expenses and $5,000 for Michaud's therapy expenses. 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. 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.". 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. Trial begins two years after newlywed was beheaded by metal gate at 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. Later, his chin trembled as Nelson delivered the government's apology. The 25-year-old human rights activist and newlywed wife was killed on June 13, 2020, in Arches National Park. She rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare, and had successfully raised funds to build health care facilities in her hometown. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo. 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. 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. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. 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. Family of activist decapitated by swinging gate at Utah park is awarded Woman decapitated by metal gate in front of her horrified husband in "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 gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her. When he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw his beheaded wife. The lawsuit filed by Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, claims his wife Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while in the passenger seat of a car exiting Arches National Park.