Twenty people were killed in a “horrific” limousine crash in upstate New York in what investigators are calling one of the “most deadly” transportation accidents in years.
Authorities reported that 18 victims were in a 2001 Ford Excursion limousine when it collided with a 2015 Toyota Highlander that was parked in a parking lot in Schoharie, a town located around 40 miles away from Albany.
A pair of the deceased were on foot, as per the New York State Police.
“Twenty fatalities is just horrific,” stated National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt, whose organization is looking into the disaster.
Sumwalt remarked, “This is the most deadly transportation accident in this country since February 2009,” alluding to the Buffalo Colgan Air tragedy that claimed 50 lives.
As per the New York State Police, every victim was an adult. Since the authorities were still informing the victims’ family, they remained anonymous.
The limousine, according to Valerie Abeling, was en route to a birthday celebration. Her niece and her spouse were also in the vehicle. She added that Shane McGowan, 30, and her niece Erin Vertucci, 34, were recently married.
Although Abeling’s daughter was invited to the birthday celebration, she chose not to go.
She said the Associated Press, “Our lives have been changed forever.”
It was a surprise birthday celebration for her youngest niece, according to Barbara Douglas, who told ABC News that she too had lost family members.
“My four nieces were here. All of them have passed away. She mentioned them without naming them, “They were in there.”
Additionally, a worker at the Greater Amsterdam School District passed away. The district announced in a statement that it will not reveal the person’s identity until family members are contacted.
According to authorities, the collision happened on Saturday just before 2:00 p.m. near the intersection of State Route 30 and State Route 30A.
The limousine was traveling southwest on State Route 30 when it failed to stop at the crossing, according to Chris Fiore, first deputy superintendent of the New York State Police. Although there is a 50 mph speed limit on that route, Fiori said it was unclear how fast the Excursion was traveling at the moment.
The limousine passed through the junction and collided with the Highlander that was parked in the parking lot of an Apple Barrel Country Store and Cafe.
According to authorities, there is where the car struck two pedestrians.
“A horrifying mishap occurred in front of our establishment today,” the shop announced on Facebook on Saturday.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone that was affected by the events of today,” the business stated.
Sumwalt and Fiore stated at a press conference on Sunday afternoon that while the NTSB and the State Police will carry out independent investigations, they will collaborate.
Regarding the impending inquiry, Sumwalt remarked, “We look at everything.” “In order to see what’s out there, we throw a really wide net. We carry out incredibly detailed investigations.”
Pete Kotowski will be the team’s primary investigator on the scene, and Sumwalt estimated that the team would be there for five days.
In answer to a reporter’s inquiry regarding the driver’s toxicological test, Fiore stated that the driver’s autopsy will be a component of the investigation.
The question of whether the driver and the passengers were using seatbelts will also be investigated. According to Fiore, passengers in the backseat are exempt from wearing seatbelts while the driver and passengers in the front seat are obligated by law to do so.
Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York expressed his “heart breaks” for the victims and stated he has ordered state agencies to assist with the probe.
“I join all New Yorkers in mourning these deaths and share in the unspeakable sorrow experienced by their families and loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” he stated in a statement.
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York tweeted, “May God bless the families who lost loved ones.”
In recent years, there have been several fatal limousine accidents. When a limo in San Francisco caught fire in 2013, the passengers were stranded inside with no way out.
Actor Tracy Morgan was involved in a limo bus collision with a tractor-trailer in New Jersey the following year that resulted in one passenger dying and Morgan and another passenger being hurt.
And in 2005, a drunk driver struck a 7-year-old girl and her wedding limousine head-on in Long Island, New York, resulting in her death. In the collision, the limo driver perished as well.
At Schumer’s prodding, the NTSB promised in 2015 to look into additional stretch limousine incidents on an individual basis.
