4 sisters were killed among 20 in deadly limo crash on way to birthday party
A senseless limousine accident turns a birthday party into a terrible tragedy.
On October 9, 2018, CNN reported a horrific accident which claimed the lives of 20 people near Schoharie, New York.
17 of the victims were young revelers on their way to a birthday party at a New York brewery. The group included two sets of newlyweds, several young parents, two brothers, and four sisters.
The accident occurred when the modified Ford Excursion.they were traveling in plowed through a stop sign and crashed into a parked SUV, killing two pedestrians.
A family mourns four sisters killed in tragic limo crash https://t.co/jJApQjGYlG pic.twitter.com/ilQKk26PsO
— New York Post (@nypost) October 8, 2018
TEXTS PROVE LIMO WAS HAVING ENGINE TROUBLE
"We don't know the cause of the accident - if it was a vehicle malfunction if it was a driver malfunction (or) a driver error."
One of the victims had sent a text which indicated that the limo was not in the best of conditions.
The investigation has since revealed that vehicle the had failed an inspection by the New York State Department of Transportation in September, and should not have been on the road.
The tragedy is being called one of the worst in New York history.
— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) October 9, 2018
Four sisters from one family, a pair of brothers from another family, and two pairs of newlyweds are among the 20 people killed.https://t.co/aZlI8xg9TY
LIMO STRUCTURE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT
Investigators are looking into the possibility that the unusual structure of the limo may have contributed to the accident and the subsequent loss of 20 lives.
The passengers were newlyweds, young couples and four sisters— all on their way to celebrate at an upstate New York brewery. https://t.co/LGyYRZpxy4
— CW39 (@CW39Houston) October 8, 2018
DRIVER WASN'T LICENCED TO DRIVE MODIFIED COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
Additionally, they reported, Scott Lisinicchia, the limo's driver did not have a CDL, the commercial driver license with a passenger endorsement required by law to drive a limousine. Lisinicchia was also killed in the crash.
New details have emerged about some of the 20 people killed in the nation's deadliest transportation disaster since 2009. https://t.co/ls1jezVY0M
— Midland Reporter-Telegram (@mwtnews) October 9, 2018
DEADLIEST US TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT IN ALMOST A DECADE
The accident is considered one of the deadliest in recent US history and has left families shattered by multiple losses and many children orphaned.
The limo company, Prestige Limousine Chauffeur Service from Gansevoort, New York, is now under investigation.
'Layers of tragedy': Four sisters, two newlywed couples among 20 dead in limo crash https://t.co/N9Lr74Twmc pic.twitter.com/CRTT7U8HC5
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) October 8, 2018
FOUR YOUNG WOMEN KILLED IN LIMO CRASH IN LONG ISLAND
Four young women were killed on their way to a wedding in April 2017 when a pickup driver crashed into the limo they were traveling in. They were Brittany M. Schulman, 23; Lauren Baruch, 24; Stephanie Belli, 23; and Amy R. Grabina, 23.
Another four passengers, which included the bride, were injured but survived.
The pickup driver, Steven Romeo, admitted to the investigating officers that he had had "a few beers" before the accident.
The limo driver had made a reckless U-turn, thus instigating the accident, but since Romeo was alcohol-impaired, he did not react in time to avoid the accident.
In order to avoid a trial, Romeo made a deal with the DA's office and he will pay a $500 fine and lose his license for 90 days.
Carlos Pino, the limo driver ultimately responsible for the accident was not persecuted after a judge threw out the charges against him due to improper procedure during the grand jury indictment.
