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. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). The wind whipped a metal gate round which sliced through the passenger door of the car and decapitated Esther. 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. 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 . SALT LAKE CITY Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud has tortured himself with a lot of "what ifs?" Michaud hopes he and Nakajjigos family can continue her legacy. "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. Outside's long reads email newsletter features our strongest writing, most ambitious reporting, and award-winning storytelling about the outdoors. 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. 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. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her . 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. They were driving toward the exit when suddenly a gust of wind lifted a metal gate and the arm swung into the roadway. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. She was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. They stipulate, however, that the plaintiffs should be awarded $22,508 for Nakajjigo's funeral expenses and $5,000 for Michaud's therapy expenses. Michaud was not injured in the accident, but he was covered head-to-toe in his wifes blood. Additionally, Berndt said the plaintiffs can only speculate on what Nakajjigo might have done had she lived, and the court can't ignore that "in favor of dreams and potential.". In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Fox13 reports the metal. But on Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson tried to give Michaud some peace of mind. Credit: AP FILE - Delicate. Her dreams were just about to come true, Chang said. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. In opening statements Monday in Salt Lake City, their attorneys said they were seeking $140 million (115m) in damages from the government accounting for Esther's earning potential. 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. Instead, Michaud met his wife's family -- who traveled to the States from Uganda -- for the first time just before the trial started. "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. Instead, "the end of the lance-like gate pierced the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter." 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Ms Nakajjigo worked to improve education and rights for women and teenage girls in her home country of Uganda and advocated to reduce rates of teenage pregnancy. The suit was filed last. I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. Ms Chang described the part of the gate that struck Ms Nakajjigo as being like a metal spear or a lance and hit the car in literally a split second. 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. 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. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didnt have a Bachelors degree. 72 Join Insider . As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. 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. The women's rights activist from Uganda was 25 when, during a camping trip to Arches National Park in June 2020, she was beheaded by a metal gate that blew closed in strong winds and sliced through the side of the car she was riding in. 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. All times AEDT (GMT +11). 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. The gruesome nature of Nakajjigos death and the fact that she was a renowned Ugandan womens rights activist drew widespread attention to the case. The claim she served is legally required before a lawsuit can be filed in court. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. Nakajjigo was. Nakajjigo also created a reality television show in Uganda focused on helping teenage mothers stay in school and learn life skills. 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. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. 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. 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. She met Ludovic Michaud in Boulder, Colorado, when she went there for a leadership accelerator program in 2019, and the two of them married in March 2020. All this building towards the $140million in damages. The claim, served Oct. 22, is seeking more than $270 million in damages from the National Park Service. Esther Nakajjigo was beheaded after the wind whipped a metal gate round cutting into the passenger side of the car, Esther Nakajjigo with her husband Ludovic Michaud, A picture of the gates that led to the young woman's death. 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. 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. Attorney Randi McGinn, representing Nakajjigos family, on Monday asked the family to leave when he described the death in gruesome detail. (Athea Trial Lawyers) Esther Nakajjigo is shown in this undated photo. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. Esther Nakajjigo had been visiting Utah's Arches National Park when she was killed by a gate caught in the wind. Estimated read time: 5-6 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. 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. Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgment, saying it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. Ugandan activist's family awarded $10.5 million for Utah death - Los Angeles Times But now, Michaud said, he returns to an apartment that doesn't feel like a home. Ms McGinn described Nakajjigo as a prominent womens rights activist who rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women around issues such as education and healthcare. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 45 Join Insider . A newlywed Denver couple's road trip to Arches National Park in Utah this summer ended in . The gate narrowly avoided Michaud, who was left covered head to toe in his wife's blood. Lindsay Whitehurst/AP What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Esther Nakajjigo lost her life when she was decapitated at an entrance to Arches National Park in Utah back in June. They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. For this work, the United Nations Population Fund gave her the Woman Achiever Award. 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. Photo: Esther Nakajjigo/Twitter. Denver7's Lance Hernandez reports. Nakajjigo received numerous international accolades and awards and 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, Colorado, where she was the recipient of a Luff Peace Fellowship. 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 National Park Service has not commented in relation to the new lawsuit but has previously released a statement expressing sympathy for the young womans death. Cruise staffer fired after shock bathroom act, Passengers injured as turbulence rocks plane. "I'll respond as soon as I'm able," Jenkins said. Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. The gate reportedly smashed through the side of the car and struck Nakajjigo . Having received numerous international accolades and awards, Nakajjigo came to the United States to further her education, where she met Michaud a video streaming technology solution architect via a dating app. I found her really interesting. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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.. Attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos parents asked for $140 million in damages, while the government said an appropriate award would be roughly $3.5 million. The family are arguing that the US Park Service was negligent and did not properly maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to their loved one's death. FILE - Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. He no longer has a TV in his apartment because the sight of any blood is triggering, he said. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. The administrative claim is a legally required precursor to a lawsuit, which is expected to be filed in about six months. 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. 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. 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. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. Michaud said he and Nakajjigo were two weeks shy of closing on a condo when the accident occurred, with hopes of owning a house down the road. 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.