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Limo Crash Leaves 20 Dead in Upstate New York; Accident Toll Is One of the Worst in Memory Limo Crash Kills 20 in Upstate New York; Nation’s Deadliest Accident in 9 Years
(35 minutes later)
SCHOHARIE, N.Y. — It was an intersection of two highways, one a steep downhill road, that residents had long warned was notoriously dangerous.SCHOHARIE, N.Y. — It was an intersection of two highways, one a steep downhill road, that residents had long warned was notoriously dangerous.
On Saturday afternoon, their worst fears were realized: A limousine lost control, plowing through a parking lot and killing 20 people in an accident that left deep tire tracks in the ground and a small upstate New York town reeling. On Saturday afternoon, their worst fears were realized: A limousine lost control, careening through the intersection and striking an empty car. The crash killed all 18 people in the white limousine and two pedestrians in an accident that left deep tire tracks in the ground and a small upstate New York town reeling.
“That limo was coming down that hill probably over 60 miles per hour,” said Jessica Kirby, 36, the manager of the Apple Barrel Country Store, where she said multiple customers were hit in the parking lot. “All fatal.” “That limo was coming down that hill probably over 60 miles per hour,” said Jessica Kirby, 36, the manager of the Apple Barrel Country Store, where she said customers were hit near the parking lot. “All fatal.”
“I don’t want to describe the scene,” she added. “It’s not something I want to think about.”“I don’t want to describe the scene,” she added. “It’s not something I want to think about.”
Federal investigators were at the scene Sunday in Schoharie, N.Y., where the crash had occurred and its remnants were still visible, including a tire torn from the limousine that lay in the mud in the creek bed, below several trees that had presumably been sawed off to access the vehicle. What appeared to be debris from the car littered the scene: mirror fragments, taillight pieces, a hairbrush. Federal investigators arrived on Sunday in Schoharie, N.Y., about 40 miles west of Albany, where the crash had occurred and its remnants were still visible, including a tire torn from the limousine that lay in the mud in the creek bed, below several trees that had presumably been sawed off to access the vehicle. What appeared to be debris from the car littered the scene: mirror fragments, taillight pieces, a hairbrush.
Ms. Kirby said she did not see the people inside the limousine and she could not describe the make or model of the other vehicle involved because it was “a mess.” The 2001 Ford Excursion limousine barreled through the intersection of two highways without stopping, crashing into another vehicle, an unoccupied 2015 Toyota Highlander, before landing in a ravine beyond the road. The two pedestrians were struck near the Apple Barrel and killed.
Lester Andrews, 60, from Rochester, N.Y., said his two stepsons and a daughter-in-law were among three of the people killed in the crash. They were in the limousine. The loss of life stunned even seasoned investigators, who called it the nation’s deadliest transportation accident since a 2009 plane crash near Buffalo, N.Y., killed 50 people.
“Twenty fatalities is just horrific,” said Robert L. Sumwalt, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is launching a comprehensive investigation. “I’ve been on the board for 12 years and this is one of the biggest losses of life that we’ve seen in a long, long time.”
All those killed were adults, the State Police said. They included at least two pairs of newlyweds and parents of young children, including a 16-month old, as family and friends quickly created a Go Fund Me page to cover future expenses.
[Read more details on limousine safety and another fatal crash involving a stretch limousine.]
Erin Flaherty, 26, was friends with many of the victims. “They were together multiple times a week, always hanging out,” said Ms. Flaherty, noting the tight-knit group of mostly 30-somethings held frequent backyard parties.
Lester Andrews, 60, of Rochester, N.Y., said his two stepsons and a daughter-in-law were among three of the people killed in the limousine crash.
The brothers, Axel Steenburg, 29, and Rich Steenburg, 34, lived upstate, he said. Axel Steenburg’s wife, Amy, also died in the crash, he said.The brothers, Axel Steenburg, 29, and Rich Steenburg, 34, lived upstate, he said. Axel Steenburg’s wife, Amy, also died in the crash, he said.
Axel and Amy, who live in Amsterdam, N.Y., and were married over the summer, had rented the limousine, he said. Some local reports said the limousine rental was related a wedding but Mr. Andrews was unsure. Axel and Amy, who lived in Amsterdam, N.Y., and were married over the summer, had rented the limousine, he said. Rich Steenburg has two children, a 10-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old stepson, a relative said. Rich Steenburg’s wife wasn’t feeling well on Saturday, and was not in the limousine.
“They rented the limo with some families and I don’t know exactly what they were doing.” Mr. Andrews said in a phone interview. “There’s just a lot of confusion, so many people died.” Initial local reports said the limousine rental was related a wedding. But Mr. Andrews said he was unsure why the group had rented the limousine, and a sister-in-law of one of the victims said it had nothing to do with a wedding.
His said the closest relatives were still awaiting details. State Police officials, at an afternoon news conference, declined to say where the group was headed or coming from.
“They rented the limo with some families and I don’t know exactly what they were doing.” Mr. Andrews said in an interview. “There’s just a lot of confusion, so many people died.”
He said even the deceased passengers’ closest relatives were still awaiting details.
“Their mother is looking for some answers,” he said. “She wants to know what happened to her sons.”“Their mother is looking for some answers,” he said. “She wants to know what happened to her sons.”
Mr. Andrews said he went to Axel’s house on Saturday night to take care of Axel’s bull mastiff.Mr. Andrews said he went to Axel’s house on Saturday night to take care of Axel’s bull mastiff.
“When we went to pick up the dog, all the people that they were with had all their cars parked in front of their house,” Mr. Andrews said.“When we went to pick up the dog, all the people that they were with had all their cars parked in front of their house,” Mr. Andrews said.
Investigators, he said, were trying to match the license plates with the victims in the limousine. Investigators, he said, were trying to match the license plates with the victims in the limousine. The State Police said in a statement that “the names of the victims are not being released at this time as next of kin are being notified.”
Alan Tavenner, the town supervisor of Schoharie, called the death toll “completely mind-boggling” in a town of 3,000.Alan Tavenner, the town supervisor of Schoharie, called the death toll “completely mind-boggling” in a town of 3,000.
The New York State Police and the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident, which occurred just before 2 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of State Route 30 and State Route 30A, according to the police. On Sunday, doctors at Albany Medical Center were being called in to care for the injured. The State Police and the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident, which occurred just before 2 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of State Route 30 and State Route 30A, according to the police.
The flag at the local ambulance company, which had responded to the first reports of the accident, was flying at half-staff, though workers would not speak to reporters.The flag at the local ambulance company, which had responded to the first reports of the accident, was flying at half-staff, though workers would not speak to reporters.
“My heart breaks for the 20 people who lost their lives,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement.“My heart breaks for the 20 people who lost their lives,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement.
Mr. Tavenner said the site of the accident was a notoriously dangerous spot, a “nasty intersection” that transportation officials had tried to fix in the past without success. “I honestly think it was a more dangerous intersection than it was before,” he said.Mr. Tavenner said the site of the accident was a notoriously dangerous spot, a “nasty intersection” that transportation officials had tried to fix in the past without success. “I honestly think it was a more dangerous intersection than it was before,” he said.
Route 30 leads steeply downhill to a T-intersection with Route 30A, marked with a stop sign.Route 30 leads steeply downhill to a T-intersection with Route 30A, marked with a stop sign.
Ms. Kirby also said the intersection was dangerous. “We’ve had three tractor-trailer type vehicles — they come down that hill too fast, they go though our parking lot and they end up in a field behind our business,” she said.Ms. Kirby also said the intersection was dangerous. “We’ve had three tractor-trailer type vehicles — they come down that hill too fast, they go though our parking lot and they end up in a field behind our business,” she said.
The State Police said in a statement that “the names of the victims are not being released at this time as next of kin are being notified.” The accident came during one of the most popular periods of the year for tourists who flock to upstate New York for its scenic fall foliage and apple-picking.
Columbus Day weekend tends to be the busiest weekend of the year for the store, Ms. Kirby said, and it was packed. Most of her customers had arrived from New York City, New Jersey or Albany, she said. Columbus Day weekend tends to be the busiest weekend of the year for the Apple Barrel, Ms. Kirby said, and the store was packed. Most of her customers had arrived from New York City, New Jersey or Albany, she said.
“A lot of people from New York City come up and they do the country things, the apple picking and the sort,” she said.“A lot of people from New York City come up and they do the country things, the apple picking and the sort,” she said.
Ms. Kirby said she was inside the store when she heard the loud bang. She rushed out and immediately called 911.Ms. Kirby said she was inside the store when she heard the loud bang. She rushed out and immediately called 911.
“We’ve heard accidents before,” she said. “You know that sound when it happens.”“We’ve heard accidents before,” she said. “You know that sound when it happens.”