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| Limo Crash in Upstate New York: What We Know About the 20 Victims | Limo Crash in Upstate New York: What We Know About the 20 Victims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The limousine accident in Schoharie, N.Y., on Saturday took 20 lives almost instantly. It devastated families, killing siblings and leaving young children without parents. The victims were friends and relatives — including four sisters from one family, and two brothers from another — who were traveling to a brewery in Cooperstown, N.Y., to celebrate a 30th birthday. | The limousine accident in Schoharie, N.Y., on Saturday took 20 lives almost instantly. It devastated families, killing siblings and leaving young children without parents. The victims were friends and relatives — including four sisters from one family, and two brothers from another — who were traveling to a brewery in Cooperstown, N.Y., to celebrate a 30th birthday. |
| Instead, they were killed when the oversized limousine they were traveling in barreled through an intersection that is known locally for its danger and crashed into an unoccupied car — and two other people, killing them — before coming to a rest in a shallow ravine. | Instead, they were killed when the oversized limousine they were traveling in barreled through an intersection that is known locally for its danger and crashed into an unoccupied car — and two other people, killing them — before coming to a rest in a shallow ravine. |
| [Read more about how the limousine crash happened.] | [Read more about how the limousine crash happened.] |
| Investigators have said little about what they know about the accident, believed by federal officials to be the deadliest transportation incident since a 2009 air crash. But details about the victims are beginning to emerge. | Investigators have said little about what they know about the accident, believed by federal officials to be the deadliest transportation incident since a 2009 air crash. But details about the victims are beginning to emerge. |
| Here’s what we know about the 20 people killed on Saturday. | Here’s what we know about the 20 people killed on Saturday. |
| • The limousine was rented by Axel and Amy Steenburg, newlyweds from Amsterdam, N.Y., who had married over the summer, according to Lester Andrews, Axel Steenburg’s stepfather. The group of friends had gathered to celebrate Amy Steenburg’s 30th birthday. | • The limousine was rented by Axel and Amy Steenburg, newlyweds from Amsterdam, N.Y., who had married over the summer, according to Lester Andrews, Axel Steenburg’s stepfather. The group of friends had gathered to celebrate Amy Steenburg’s 30th birthday. |
| • Three of her sisters, Mary Dyson, Allison King and Abby Jackson, also died in the car crash, relatives said. Axel’s brother, Rich Steenburg, was also killed and is survived by his 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old stepson. The Steenburg brothers both worked for GlobalFoundries, a foundry that produces semiconductors. | • Three of her sisters, Mary Dyson, Allison King and Abby Jackson, also died in the car crash, relatives said. Axel’s brother, Rich Steenburg, was also killed and is survived by his 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old stepson. The Steenburg brothers both worked for GlobalFoundries, a foundry that produces semiconductors. |
| • Ms. Jackson was a teacher in the Amsterdam School District, per The Times Union. Amsterdam is a small Mohawk River city, about 30 miles north of Schoharie, where “most” of the victims were from, according to a tweet from Angelo Santabarbara, a local assemblyman. The city plans a vigil on Monday evening for the victims. | • Ms. Jackson was a teacher in the Amsterdam School District, per The Times Union. Amsterdam is a small Mohawk River city, about 30 miles north of Schoharie, where “most” of the victims were from, according to a tweet from Angelo Santabarbara, a local assemblyman. The city plans a vigil on Monday evening for the victims. |
| • Barbara Douglas, an aunt of the four sisters, told NBC News that the party was a surprise birthday celebration for her niece, Ms. Steenburg. “They did the responsible thing getting a limo so they wouldn’t be driving,” Ms. Douglas said. She added that Rob Dyson, who was married to Ms. Dyson, was also killed in the crash. | • Barbara Douglas, an aunt of the four sisters, told NBC News that the party was a surprise birthday celebration for her niece, Ms. Steenburg. “They did the responsible thing getting a limo so they wouldn’t be driving,” Ms. Douglas said. She added that Rob Dyson, who was married to Ms. Dyson, was also killed in the crash. |
| Ms. Dyson was an Army veteran, an engineer and a CrossFit coach, according to WWNYTV. | |
| • Two other victims were also recently married: Erin and Shane McGowan. Rocco Semprivivo said his stepdaughter, Erin McGowan, had dated Shane McGowan for a few years before marrying at St. Mary’s Church in Amsterdam in June. | • Two other victims were also recently married: Erin and Shane McGowan. Rocco Semprivivo said his stepdaughter, Erin McGowan, had dated Shane McGowan for a few years before marrying at St. Mary’s Church in Amsterdam in June. |
| She had worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam and was studying for her master’s degree in special education. | |
| “She was just such a pretty girl,” Mr. Semprivivo said of his stepdaughter before hanging up. | “She was just such a pretty girl,” Mr. Semprivivo said of his stepdaughter before hanging up. |
| • Patrick Cushing, who was Erin McGowan’s cousin, also died in the crash. “He loved, hugged and cried with his friends and family like their problems were his,” his brother, Justin Cushing, said in a statement. Patrick Cushing, 31, worked for the technology group of the New York Senate, his brother said. He loved photography and played for Team USA Dodgeball. | |
| “Pat’s passion for the sport and always present laughter were infectious to those lucky enough to play alongside or against him,” Team USA Dodgeball wrote on Facebook. | |
| Patrick Cushing lived in Troy with his girlfriend, Amanda Halse, 26, who also died in the crash. “He loved Amanda,” his brother said. | |
| • Patrick Cushing was the godfather to one of Adam and Abby Jackson’s daughters. Mr. and Ms. Jackson also died in the crash. A GoFundMe page was created to cover the college expenses for their daughters, Archer, 4, and 16-month-old Ellie. | |
| • The victims were a tight-knit group of friends, most of them in their 30s, that had been recently married or had young children, according to Erin Flaherty, a mutual friend who lives in Manhattan. | • The victims were a tight-knit group of friends, most of them in their 30s, that had been recently married or had young children, according to Erin Flaherty, a mutual friend who lives in Manhattan. |
| “They were together multiple times a week always hanging out,” said Ms. Flaherty, noting they threw many backyard parties. | “They were together multiple times a week always hanging out,” said Ms. Flaherty, noting they threw many backyard parties. |