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

[EuTuCroquet?]

You're welcome. I'm not sure he actually stated it, but I presume he meant deadliest in the USA since 2009.

Thanks for doing such a great job posting about the presser.

Yes, deadliest in the U.S. Though the 2009 event was in New York State (Buffalo), as well.

And you’re welcome. Thanks for the compliment.

 

[MsFacetious]

Yes, this. 4 crew, 45 passengers and 1 on the ground.

Aviation Accident Report AAR-10-01

One of the death was in the house where the airplane crashed. It is 50 killed.

This is absolutely horrific. It sounds like at least 2 married couples, one with children died in this crash. I fear there will be more children who've been orphaned by this crash. So avoidable!

Only front-seat passengers required by law to wear seatbelts in limo: NYSPD

Two pedestrians were struck.

Will not ID limo company at this time.

I believe it's likely most were not wearing seatbelts and this contributed to the high death toll. It sounds like there were ejections as well.

20 killed in Schoharie limousine crash

Witnesses at the scene said several bodies could be seen on the ground outside the Apple Barrel.

Wow. How horrible the crash must have been for everyone to pass.

It is possible it was just a horrible crash that was not survivable for any of the passengers.
However, I don't believe that is the case.

I believe that the conversion of the vehicle likely added to the death toll significantly.

Limo Crashes Into Parked SUV in Upstate NY, Killing 20

A grand jury found that vehicles converted into stretch limousines often don't have safety measures including side-impact airbags, reinforced rollover protection bars and accessible emergency exits. That grand jury called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to assemble a task force on limousine safety.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

Looking at the photos in some of the local news stories from there, details like a random, burned tire still at the scene makes me wonder if the vehicle flipped and caught fire. It does make me wonder about possible vehicle malfunction and prior modifications.

Pure speculation on my part.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

I believe it's likely most were not wearing seatbelts and this contributed to the high death toll. It sounds like there were ejections as well.

20 killed in Schoharie limousine crash

Witnesses at the scene said several bodies could be seen on the ground outside the Apple Barrel.

It is possible it was just a horrible crash that was not survivable for any of the passengers.
However, I don't believe that is the case.

I believe that the conversion of the vehicle likely added to the death toll significantly.

Limo Crashes Into Parked SUV in Upstate NY, Killing 20

A grand jury found that vehicles converted into stretch limousines often don't have safety measures including side-impact airbags, reinforced rollover protection bars and accessible emergency exits. That grand jury called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to assemble a task force on limousine safety.

rsff

I wonder if the vehicle’s age will come into play. The story says it was a 2001 Ford Excursion.

 

[Gardenista]

I checked Ford's website and it doesn't show an Excursion as a limo model. Either they don't make it anymore or it was a modification

Fleet Showroom | fleet.ford.com

 

[MsFacetious]

It was a modification I'm 99% sure.

 

[HMSHood]

The limo was for a birthday party.

The Latest: Aunt says limo was on way to birthday party

The limo is very likely a modification.

 

[LietKynes]

Rest in peace to the victims ! What a horror for the families.

 

[Mica]

I checked Ford's website and it doesn't show an Excursion as a limo model. Either they don't make it anymore or it was a modification

Fleet Showroom | fleet.ford.com

Here’s one for sale. Capacity 18. Most likely a modification, IMO.

Used 2001 Ford Excursion SUV Stretch Limo Legendary - Fairfield, California - $9,000

 

[Jax49]

State Police: 20 dead in crash involving limousine

- image of wrecked limo at above site -

 

[crhedBngr]

So very, very sad. My condolences to the Family and Friends.

RIP

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

...I believe it's likely most were not wearing seatbelts and this contributed to the high death toll. It sounds like there were ejections as well.

20 killed in Schoharie limousine crash

Witnesses at the scene said several bodies could be seen on the ground outside the Apple Barrel...

<respectfully snipped>
I haven't seen interior of Ford Explorer limousine like the one involved in this crash, but I have seen interior of similar vehicle. There are no passenger seatbelts other than driver and front seat passenger. Seating is similar to a sectional sofa around the perimeter of the vehicle with islands in the center (for beverages, snacks, etc.). If there are seatbelts, they are not visible through windows.

 

[crhedBngr]

<respectfully snipped>
I haven't seen interior of Ford Explorer limousine like the one involved in this crash, but I have seen interior of similar vehicle. There are no passenger seatbelts other than driver and front seat passenger. Seating is similar to a sectional sofa around the perimeter of the vehicle with islands in the center (for beverages, snacks, etc.).

Ugh, I suspected as much.

 

[CocoChanel]

State Police: 20 dead in crash involving limousine

I know we cannot see the entire vehicle, but it appears relatively intact, with no visible signs of fire damage. I am surmising lack of seat belts played a major part in the fatalities. The physical trauma must have been horrific. What a terrible terrible tragedy.

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

A photo of a Ford Excursion SUV limo, just as an example of how large the vehicle can be (I don't know if the one in the crash is this long, tho):

Ford Excursion - Wikipedia

The Ford Excursion is a heavy duty (Class 2), extended-length sport utility vehicle that was produced by Ford from 1999 to 2005, launched for 2000 in the North American market.
...

During and since its production, the Excursion has become a basis for several types of aftermarket vehicles. The Excursion became a basis for stretch limousines; as a result of its truck-derived chassis, many examples were stretched longer than the 120-inch limit imposed by Ford on the Lincoln Town Car sedan.​

 

[DexterMorgan]

So was speeding a factor? How did it hit bystanders if the occupants were basically dying at that point?

Did another car hit them and sent the limo until the crowd?

 

[CocoChanel]

So was speeding a factor? How did it hit bystanders if the occupants were basically dying at that point?

Did another car hit them and sent the limo until the crowd?

Some of the news reports state the limo was “speeding down a hill”, but it would take a thorough investigation to determine that I think.

 

[Gardenista]

So was speeding a factor? How did it hit bystanders if the occupants were basically dying at that point?

Did another car hit them and sent the limo until the crowd?

I dont think it hit a crowd--just another car in the parking lot which was empty, but it did kill 2 in the parking lot. For the life of me, I can't figure out how the limo ended up where it did though.

 

[jjenny]

From what has been reported so far, no other car hit the limo. Limo hit the parked car (said to be in a parking lot) so presumably it went out of control at some point before hitting that parked car. Not sure when the occupants of the limo died or were dying, but how does it affect limo hitting the bystanders?

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

State Police: 20 dead in crash involving limousine

I know we cannot see the entire vehicle, but it appears relatively intact, with no visible signs of fire damage. I am surmising lack of seat belts played a major part in the fatalities. The physical trauma must have been horrific. What a terrible terrible tragedy.

Is that the limo or the other SUV that was struck? (It does look like the limo to me, too, tbh.) Just curious.

There are other pix from the scene that show lone tires separated from (someone's) automobile as victims' family/friends walked through the scene. It's grim to think about, but has it been reported whether or not the limo had a sunroof or any other modification?

Source: Schoharie limo crash deadliest in US in nine years