Limo crash, 20 dead

widgeon13 · 10-08-2018, 03:45 AM

How did this happen?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ntsb-probes-fatal-crash-involving-limo-multiple-deaths-143025082.html

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (AP) — A limousine carrying four sisters, other relatives and friends to a birthday celebration blew through a stop sign and slammed into a parked SUV outside a store in upstate New York, killing all 18 people in the limo and two pedestrians, officials and victims' relatives said Sunday.

The weekend crash was characterized by authorities as the deadliest U.S. transportation accident in nearly a decade. The crash turned a relaxed Saturday afternoon to horror at a rural spot popular with tourists viewing the region's fall foliage. Relatives said the limousine was carrying the sisters and their friends to a 30th birthday celebration for the youngest.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

The store manager, Jessica Kirby, told The New York Times the limo was coming down a hill at "probably over 60 mph." In an email to The Associated Press, she complained that the junction where the crashed occurred is accident-prone.

"We have had 3 tractor trailer type trucks run through the stop through our driveway and into a field behind the business," Kirby wrote. "All of these occurred during business hours and could've killed someone then."

She added that the state Department of Transportation has banned heavy trucks from the intersection but there are constant smaller crashes. "More accidents than I can count."

I was going to go with heart attack of the limo driver, but after reading the article going to guess inexperienced driver didn't take into account the weight of 19 additional people.

Was the limo driver inexperienced, or distracted?

I don't know, just a guess.

masraum · 10-08-2018, 04:25 AM

Wow, horrible.

widgeon13 · 10-08-2018, 04:33 AM

Just hard to believe there were no survivors.

Going to be a lot of nightmares for those police and EMTs.

Baz · Baz's Garage

Wonder if there was a dash cam?

Hard to believe everyone in the vehicle died without a fire.

That's a lot of blunt force trauma.

Prayers to all involved......terrible tragedy....

widgeon13 · 10-08-2018, 04:43 AM

Never thought about fire.

Somewhere I read the limo was in poor shape so I doubt a dash cam was in it.

It's a "T" intersection so my guess is brake failure caused by overloaded vehicle.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Most likely: 99% driver error.

I am GUESSING not one of the passengers was wearing a seat belt.

It is a very sad event.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I used to live in that area, less than 20 miles away. I'm trying to get a better perspective from the local news, as opposed to the national news.

I expect that the brakes/tires of the limo were bad. I doubt the driver was drunk. Really sad, with 4 sisters and newlyweds too.

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Most likely: 99% driver error.

I am GUESSING not one of the passengers was wearing a seat belt.

It is a very sad event.

i agree, i bet nobody was strapped in.

sad/horrific..RIP.

Porchdog · 10-08-2018, 07:13 AM

2001 Excursion Limo. Reports are that the brakes failed. That's a steep hill, commercial trucks are prohibited.

From the photos the limo looks pretty small for 18 people. Apparently it was a last minute substitution when the reserved vehicle had a mechanical problem. Just before the accident one of the passengers sent a message that it was in terrible shape.

Terrible accident. Looks like it is squarely on the limo company.

fastfredracing · 10-08-2018, 07:25 AM

I do brake lines all the time on Ford trucks from that era. Very possible a line failed.

vash · vash's Garage

i imagine stretching a car to make a limo..a few brake lines get cut and lengthened.

i cant imagine any safety testing after that..

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

I saw on the news this morning that the limo company had failed 4 out of 5 of its last safety inspections, I forget which agency was doing the inspections.

This will be hard on all the families involved. RIP.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

#1. The original party bus was broken, so they supplied the stretch Limo
#2. Stretch Limo had failed inspection (NYS requires a yearly safety inspection for lights, brake and horn. It involves removing the tires and inspecting the actual brakes). I found it crazy when moving to California that they required emission testing, but not safety testing.
#3. The Limo driver did not have a Limo/CDL

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I saw on the news this morning that the limo company had failed 4 out of 5 of its last safety inspections, I forget which agency was doing the inspections.

This will be hard on all the families involved. RIP.

Inspections are done by service stations that are licensed by NY-DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicle).

legion · 10-08-2018, 10:25 AM

My thoughts:

-A limo is about the last vehicle you'd want to be in in a car accident. They cut a vehicle in half, add a lot of weight, have no idea what will happen if it crashes, and don't upgrade the brakes.

-The hill in question was already known to be problematic. Commercial vehicles were banned after a few accidents where trucks were unable to stop.

-Add to that someone who shouldn't have been driving a limo and presto! Horrific accident.