Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation in eastern Utah, visiting national parks across the region several months after their wedding. death 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. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches, 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, Newlywed 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. 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. Nakajjigo was involved in countless philanthropic endeavors. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. The National Park Service did not respond to an email seeking comment, and the media relations voicemail inbox was full and could not accept messages. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. WebIn 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 Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. WebMOAB, Utah Ludo Michaud heard a loud noise. 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 Arches National Park: 2 people die after falling while hiking - USA Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. "I had a ton of flashbacks. 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. The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. Park staff told investigators that the gates own weight usually kept it in place, according to a report from the Grand County sheriffs office. Twist after newlywed decapitated by gate at national park - Yahoo! WebThey said claims by the family's lawyers that Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time of her death, was on track to be a nonprofit CEO shortly were too speculative to be used as a basis for Webcam Entrance Station Webcam She described Nakajjigo as a prominent women's rights activist who 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. National Park Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Family sues after newlywed is killed by gate at Arches park As Nakajjigo and her husband were leaving Arches National Park, a strong gust of wind swung the gate with sufficient force to slice through the passenger door of the couples vehicle, decapitating Nakajjigo as her husband sat in the drivers seat. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. All rights reserved. Legal Statement. Esther Nakajjigo beheaded by gate at Utahs Arches National Park Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Family of Woman Decapitated by Swinging Gate at State Park She was consistently working to improve the lives of women in Africa and beyond. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. A 30-year-old man who also fell was hospitalized; his current condition is unknown. 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. Legal Statement. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the claim said. 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. In 2018, she participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program at Drexel University, and she was also the recipient of the 2018 Luff Peace Fellowship at Watson Institute. 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WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. ", "Such metal pipe gates have been known to move when left unsecured, swing to the traveled part of the roadways, and penetrate into vehicles," the claim argues. The In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue. 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. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. The gate barely missed Michaud. National Park "The end of the gate impaled the car like a lance, and literally beheaded his newly-wed bride right in front of him.". Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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. I think thats what they meant to show but I could be wrong On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". "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. "The NPS have a duty to reasonably inspect, operate, and maintain these gates and guard against foreseeable dangers," the claims says. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! A metal gate at Arches National Park killed a woman. 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