NY - Twenty Fatality Traffic Crash, Schoharie County, 6 Oct 2018

[Jax49]

Mourners pack funeral for 8 of 20 killed in New York limousine crash

Among them were Amy Steenburg and her husband, Axel Steenburg, whom DeMartinis had married in June.

One item from their wedding was brought to the funeral: a sign the couple made asking wedding guests not to take pictures, because "we suggest that you live in the moment.

Each of the three married couples shared an urn, placed near photographs of the eight crash victims. Surrounding the urns were five teddy bears — one for each young child who lost a parent.

 

[gregjrichards]

Mourners pack funeral for 8 of 20 killed in New York limousine crash

Absolutely heartbreaking. May they Rest In Peace.

 

[Elainera]

The "coasting" text made me wonder whether the driver was conscious at all?

 

[gregjrichards]

Have any prior passengers in this limo come forward with information? I can’t imagine what it must be like to know you were in this limo recently prior to this terrible tragedy.

 

[jjenny]

The "coasting" text made me wonder whether the driver was conscious at all?

Considering she texted 15 minutes before the crash, i don't see anything suggesting driver was unconscious. Otherwise presumably during those 15 minutes one of the passengers would have taken over. There were also no calls to 911 during this time, which is kind of strange if the vehicle was actually coasting with no breaks? All of the victims presumably had cell phones, I would expect calls to 911 if that were the case.

 

[jjenny]

Driver was involved in a somewhat similar accident three years ago.
"The driver behind the wheel of a limo in an upstate New York crash that left him and 19 others dead last weekend was previously involved in a similar accident that injured two people three years ago."
New York Limo Driver Killed in Deadly Crash Was Previously in Accident That Injured 2

 

[alibrarian]

A first responder stated he heard the limo prior to the crash.

First responders discuss grieving after seeing crash scene

Interview with Fire Chief Matthew Deffer
"Deffer said he heard the limo pass him at a gas station about a half hour before the crash.

“It just caught us off guard you hear this loud vehicle come through the intersection I just turn around and look and realize that it’s a limo that sounded just horrible,” Deffer said. “I just thought to myself well hopefully they’re going to get that thing repaired.”

Then Deffer got the call. He didn't know it was the limo, but he knew it must’ve been a serious crash."

 

[MsBetsy]

Considering she texted 15 minutes before the crash, i don't see anything suggesting driver was unconscious. Otherwise presumably during those 15 minutes one of the passengers would have taken over. There were also no calls to 911 during this time, which is kind of strange if the vehicle was actually coasting with no breaks? All of the victims presumably had cell phones, I would expect calls to 911 if that were the case.

Also there is the text 4 minutes before the crash, which did not indicate a problem at that time. I think it happened fast and there was no time to do anything... except panic. I'm sure they were terrified. I hope not for too long.

 

[Mica]

Have any prior passengers in this limo come forward with information? I can’t imagine what it must be like to know you were in this limo recently prior to this terrible tragedy.

I’ve only seen this article about a couple who used the same limo and driver for their wedding one year earlier to the day of the crash.

https://nypost.com/2018/10/09/man-w...rash-says-it-shouldve-been-in-the-scrap-yard/

 

[KaaBoom]

Driver was involved in a somewhat similar accident three years ago.
"The driver behind the wheel of a limo in an upstate New York crash that left him and 19 others dead last weekend was previously involved in a similar accident that injured two people three years ago."
New York Limo Driver Killed in Deadly Crash Was Previously in Accident That Injured 2

During that stop, Lisinicchia was cited for operating without a proper license. State police said they told Lisinicchia and the company that the vehicle could not operate again without the proper licensing.

So the NY State Police just wrote him a ticket and let an unlicensed driver drive away in an unsafe vehicle?

 

[Isabelle]

There seems to be confusion in media articles about the ownership of the Crest Inn. It is not owned by Shahed Hussain, at least not as specified on county property records.


The property manager of the Crest Inn and suites said the owner’s name is “Malik” and he lives in Dubai.

Arnie Cornett, the manager at the hotel, identified the owner as “Malik” and said he lived in Dubai. Mr. Hussain, the informant, went by Malik when he helped the F.B.I. infiltrate a mosque in Albany.

Deadly Limo Crash: Vehicle ‘Was Not Supposed to Be on the Road’




The property records for the sleazy motel shows Malik Riaz Hussain as the owner, not Shahed “Malik” Hussain, as some articles state. Shahed Hussain owns Prestige Limo. The limo company used the Crest Inn address as their business address. Shahed is currently in Pakistan.

http://saratoga.sdgnys.com/propdetail.aspx?swis=415600&printkey=12700000030250000000


Malik Riaz Hussain is a man of great wealth and power.....

I believe Malik is the same person. Ive seen that name referred to as being another name for the owner of the limo company.

 

[mister happy]

I’ve only seen this article about a couple who used the same limo and driver for their wedding one year earlier to the day of the crash.

https://nypost.com/2018/10/09/man-w...rash-says-it-shouldve-been-in-the-scrap-yard/

Dang! A totally shoddy operation with shoddy vehicles and a shoddy driver. Even the name "Prestige Limousine" is a shoddy joke. This was a trajedy waiting to happen, and it happened.

The article linked below said the company was trying to unload the limo on Craigslist days before the crash, claiming it was in excellent condition and DOT ready. Yeah, right!

https://nypost.com/2018/10/09/limo-...-sale-on-craigslist-days-before-deadly-wreck/

 

[MsFacetious]

So the NY State Police just wrote him a ticket and let an unlicensed driver drive away in an unsafe vehicle?

I swear they did more than that. I think they did everything they were able to do.... but they were not able to impound it. I swear I saw it specified somewhere that he was either escorted back to the business, or someone else drove the limo back. This is the closest I can find though.

Driver in fatal limo crash was cited in August for having improper license

Lisinicchia had a CDL-A license that allowed him to drive trucks but he lacked the additional permit needed to legally drive a vehicle capable of holding more than 15 passengers. The police record indicates that a supervising motor carrier investigator with DOT, Martin Duffy, went to the scene to assist and was made aware of the problems with the vehicle and the driver's credentials.

The report indicates the vehicle was driven to the limousine company's "place of business to do inspection." It's unclear where that took place.

The trooper informed Lisinicchia he was "out of service" and not permitted to drive "any motor vehicle" for any commercial motor carrier until he obtained the proper permit.

 

[Tripod]

I swear they did more than that. I think they did everything they were able to do.... but they were not able to impound it. I swear I saw it specified somewhere that he was either escorted back to the business, or someone else drove the limo back. This is the closest I can find though.

Driver in fatal limo crash was cited in August for having improper license

Lisinicchia had a CDL-A license that allowed him to drive trucks but he lacked the additional permit needed to legally drive a vehicle capable of holding more than 15 passengers. The police record indicates that a supervising motor carrier investigator with DOT, Martin Duffy, went to the scene to assist and was made aware of the problems with the vehicle and the driver's credentials.

The report indicates the vehicle was driven to the limousine company's "place of business to do inspection." It's unclear where that took place.

The trooper informed Lisinicchia he was "out of service" and not permitted to drive "any motor vehicle" for any commercial motor carrier until he obtained the proper permit.

I read the same info as you, MsF., that the limo was taken out of service and driven to the place of business.

 

[Tripod]

Oh brother now we might have a lost limo driver ? How "off" is being there in Schoharie?

My SO drives back and forth to Amsterdam for work, and takes I88 to the Schoharie exit, but never takes the Rte. the limo did. You CAN, but it adds a few miles and time. We may never know why he did that. Hubby turns left onto Rte. 30A ( off I88), then turns right onto Rte.7, then takes another left a ways up onto Rte. 30 to Amsterdam. The limo was obviously going to get on I88 at exit 23, but for whatever reason took that extra way- probably just following road signs and wasn't familiar enough.

 

[Tripod]

The idea of that is indeed terrifying.

Also from the article (bbm):

Minutes passed and some of the messages sent from the limousine only grew more ominous.

At 1:40 p.m., 15 minutes before the crash, Allison King texted her fiancé.

“She said the brakes were burning and they were coasting,” her mother said.

Four minutes before the fatal accident, Ms. Jackson texted her mother-in-law who was taking care of her daughters, Archer, 4, and Elle, 16 months.

“She was checking to see how the girls were doing,” according to her mother.

Death at the Crossroads: A Ragged Limo, an Anxious Driver and 17 Friends

It's a decent, and sobering, article. My only quibble is that Otsego Lake is a long way from the Finger Lakes. It was carved out by glaciers, as were the Finger Lakes, but isnt considered one of them.

I honestly think the limo driver just was not familiar with the best route to Cooperstown. I can, and do, go to Cooperstown a few different ways, but more often than not, I go what we call "the back way," and even though my home and property is near I88, I don't drive to C-town on it.

 

[1&2&3]

Hi everyone, I have been MIA due to Hurricane Michael’s eye going directly over us! We were not expecting any damage and were not prepared! We are in the central part of the state of North Carolina

It has been a disaster due to the massive rain and high winds. Many of the trees have short root systems and they just cannot withstand what we went through. The northwest side of the city has been without electricity since Wednesday. It was restored at different times today, Saturday.

There wasn’t a grocery store, pharmacy, gas station,
Restaurant, any business open! Lowes the big box store had a generator and the small WalMart finally opened.
One stop light worked in about 10-14 mile radius.

Traveling was and is like being in a corn maze with so many streets closed from downed trees. I had been grocery shopping on Monday, therefore, lost everything in my freezer and refrigerator. Yes, I bought ice bags, but we went too long with no electricity . The cooler chests were still sold out from Florence.

I haven’t heard of any lives lost so that is the most important part of a storm like this. How are you all? Hope everyone made it safely through.

 

[Trident]

Wow, sorry you're having to cope with so much damage and lost your food. But you're here, in one piece. Praise the Lord.

 

[Jax49]

Hi everyone, I have been MIA due to Hurricane Michael’s eye going directly over us! We were not expecting any damage and were not prepared! We are in the central part of the state of North Carolina

It has been a disaster due to the massive rain and high winds. Many of the trees have short root systems and they just cannot withstand what we went through. The northwest side of the city has been without electricity since Wednesday. It was restored at different times today, Saturday.

There wasn’t a grocery store, pharmacy, gas station,
Restaurant, any business open! Lowes the big box store had a generator and the small WalMart finally opened.
One stop light worked in about 10-14 mile radius.

Traveling was and is like being in a corn maze with so many streets closed from downed trees. I had been grocery shopping on Monday, therefore, lost everything in my freezer and refrigerator. Yes, I bought ice bags, but we went too long with no electricity . The cooler chests were still sold out from Florence.

I haven’t heard of any lives lost so that is the most important part of a storm like this. How are you all? Hope everyone made it safely through.

Glad to hear you are physically safe. Please join us on the Michael thread.

Hurricane Michael - October 2018

 

[Mica]

I believe Malik is the same person. Ive seen that name referred to as being another name for the owner of the limo company.

The property records for the sleazy Crest Inn and Suites are in the name of Malik Riaz Hussain. This is not the same person as Shahed “Malik” Hussain. Google the name. They are different people. But most likely connected.. Shahed and his wife once lived on the property many years ago.