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| Limousine Owner Had Shoddy Record and Shady Dealings | Limousine Owner Had Shoddy Record and Shady Dealings |
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| A driver with an improper license. A limousine company with a trail of failed inspections and ties to a scheme to illegally obtain driver’s licenses. And a limousine itself that had also been deemed unsafe. | A driver with an improper license. A limousine company with a trail of failed inspections and ties to a scheme to illegally obtain driver’s licenses. And a limousine itself that had also been deemed unsafe. |
| Two days after a devastating limousine crash in upstate New York that killed 20 people, officials revealed new details about their inquiry that suggested that the trip never should have been allowed to happen. | Two days after a devastating limousine crash in upstate New York that killed 20 people, officials revealed new details about their inquiry that suggested that the trip never should have been allowed to happen. |
| The mounting questions about the accident increasingly centered on the limousine company, Prestige Limousine, which had a shoddy record, operated out of a back room in a low-budget hotel and had a history of dealings that seemed to extend to Dubai. On Monday, officials moved to suspend the company’s operations and seize its vehicles. | |
| Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo told reporters that the limousine involved in the accident had failed an inspection last month and “was not supposed to be on the road.” | Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo told reporters that the limousine involved in the accident had failed an inspection last month and “was not supposed to be on the road.” |
| In all, Prestige had three vehicles and had repeatedly failed inspections, officials said. | In all, Prestige had three vehicles and had repeatedly failed inspections, officials said. |
| The owner of the limousine company, Shahed Hussain, has the same name and address as that of a former informant for the F.B.I. who has testified in two prominent terrorism cases, according to public records. A law enforcement official suggested that his son may operate the limousine company. | The owner of the limousine company, Shahed Hussain, has the same name and address as that of a former informant for the F.B.I. who has testified in two prominent terrorism cases, according to public records. A law enforcement official suggested that his son may operate the limousine company. |
| The company is based at the Crest Hotel and Suites in Gansevoort, N.Y., a small town north of Albany, and on Monday, state troopers were at the hotel. The State Police said they had seized three vehicles, including another limousine, from the company and believed that Mr. Hussain was outside of the United States. | The company is based at the Crest Hotel and Suites in Gansevoort, N.Y., a small town north of Albany, and on Monday, state troopers were at the hotel. The State Police said they had seized three vehicles, including another limousine, from the company and believed that Mr. Hussain was outside of the United States. |
| Arnie Cornett, the manager at the hotel, confirmed that the State Police were looking for the owner of the hotel and limousine company. Mr. Cornett identified the owner only 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. | Arnie Cornett, the manager at the hotel, confirmed that the State Police were looking for the owner of the hotel and limousine company. Mr. Cornett identified the owner only 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. |
| Lincoln Prosser, who lives at the hotel with her husband and three children, said she had not seen any limousines parked outside. But when she lived there between 2013 and 2015, she said, she noticed a few limousines parked there, some of which appeared to be broken down. | Lincoln Prosser, who lives at the hotel with her husband and three children, said she had not seen any limousines parked outside. But when she lived there between 2013 and 2015, she said, she noticed a few limousines parked there, some of which appeared to be broken down. |
| The limousine company issued a statement on Monday expressing condolence to the relatives of those killed in the crash. “We are performing a detailed internal investigation to determine the cause of the accident,” the statement said, adding that the company had voluntarily taken its vehicles off the road. “We have already met with State and Federal investigators, and plan to do so again.” | The limousine company issued a statement on Monday expressing condolence to the relatives of those killed in the crash. “We are performing a detailed internal investigation to determine the cause of the accident,” the statement said, adding that the company had voluntarily taken its vehicles off the road. “We have already met with State and Federal investigators, and plan to do so again.” |
| The driver of the vehicle, who also died in the crash, has not been identified by authorities, but social media posts from family members said he was Scott Lisinicchia. Mr. Cuomo said that the driver “did not have the appropriate driver’s license to be operating that vehicle,” which crashed and caused one of the worst accidents in state history. | The driver of the vehicle, who also died in the crash, has not been identified by authorities, but social media posts from family members said he was Scott Lisinicchia. Mr. Cuomo said that the driver “did not have the appropriate driver’s license to be operating that vehicle,” which crashed and caused one of the worst accidents in state history. |
| Federal officials said that the crash in Schoharie, N.Y., a small town about 40 miles west of Albany, was the worst transportation-related accident in the country in nine years, since a 2009 plane crash outside Buffalo that killed 50 people. | Federal officials said that the crash in Schoharie, N.Y., a small town about 40 miles west of Albany, was the worst transportation-related accident in the country in nine years, since a 2009 plane crash outside Buffalo that killed 50 people. |
| On Monday, investigators continue to search for clues as to what caused the 2001 Ford Excursion limousine to speed down a rural highway, through a stop sign and into an unoccupied car, killing 17 friends in the vehicle who were on their way to celebrate a birthday party. Two pedestrians were also killed in the crash. | On Monday, investigators continue to search for clues as to what caused the 2001 Ford Excursion limousine to speed down a rural highway, through a stop sign and into an unoccupied car, killing 17 friends in the vehicle who were on their way to celebrate a birthday party. Two pedestrians were also killed in the crash. |
| The investigation will also include autopsies of the victims, a tight-knit group that included four sisters, two brothers and several young couples. Those victims had yet to be identified by the authorities but heartbroken friends and relatives were already posting testimonials. | The investigation will also include autopsies of the victims, a tight-knit group that included four sisters, two brothers and several young couples. Those victims had yet to be identified by the authorities but heartbroken friends and relatives were already posting testimonials. |
| “I lost my two best friends in this,” wrote Justin Cushing, whose brother Patrick, friend Adam Jackson and his cousin, Erin McGowan, all died in the limousine. “I’m shaking.” | “I lost my two best friends in this,” wrote Justin Cushing, whose brother Patrick, friend Adam Jackson and his cousin, Erin McGowan, all died in the limousine. “I’m shaking.” |
| There were also unsettling signs that the victims may have been concerned by the condition of the limousine. One friend of Ms. McGowan said that she had received a text telling her that a party bus that was supposed to to take the group of friends to a brewery in Cooperstown had broken down on the way to pick them up. | There were also unsettling signs that the victims may have been concerned by the condition of the limousine. One friend of Ms. McGowan said that she had received a text telling her that a party bus that was supposed to to take the group of friends to a brewery in Cooperstown had broken down on the way to pick them up. |
| Instead, the group obtained a stretch limousine, which was in shoddy condition, Ms. McGowan told her friend, Melissa Healey, using a profanity to describe the vehicle. | Instead, the group obtained a stretch limousine, which was in shoddy condition, Ms. McGowan told her friend, Melissa Healey, using a profanity to describe the vehicle. |
| Ms. Healey, 33, who had been the maid of honor at Ms. McGowan’s wedding this past summer, shared the texts with The New York Times. | Ms. Healey, 33, who had been the maid of honor at Ms. McGowan’s wedding this past summer, shared the texts with The New York Times. |
| “The motor is making everyone deaf,” wrote Ms. McGowan, before Ms. Healey asked from where they rented the car. | “The motor is making everyone deaf,” wrote Ms. McGowan, before Ms. Healey asked from where they rented the car. |
| Ms. McGowan responded that she wasn’t sure, but then added, “When we get to brewery we will all b deaf.” | Ms. McGowan responded that she wasn’t sure, but then added, “When we get to brewery we will all b deaf.” |
| They never made it. | They never made it. |
| [Here’s what we know about the 20 victims.] | [Here’s what we know about the 20 victims.] |
| Mr. Cuomo cautioned that the cause of the accident had not been determined, noting that investigators were looking at both mechanical malfunction and driver error. The state has already issued a cease-and-desist order to prevent Prestige Limousine from operating. | Mr. Cuomo cautioned that the cause of the accident had not been determined, noting that investigators were looking at both mechanical malfunction and driver error. The state has already issued a cease-and-desist order to prevent Prestige Limousine from operating. |
| A phone number listed for the company on federal records was disconnected on Monday. | A phone number listed for the company on federal records was disconnected on Monday. |
| Mr. Hussain, the man whose name seems to be associated with the limousine company, posed as a wealthy Muslim radical and was the central prosecution witness in a 2004 federal sting focusing on a pizzeria owner and an imam at an Albany mosque. In 2010, Mr. Hussain, who posed as a terrorist, played a key role in trying the government’s case in a plot to blow up two synagogues in the Bronx. | Mr. Hussain, the man whose name seems to be associated with the limousine company, posed as a wealthy Muslim radical and was the central prosecution witness in a 2004 federal sting focusing on a pizzeria owner and an imam at an Albany mosque. In 2010, Mr. Hussain, who posed as a terrorist, played a key role in trying the government’s case in a plot to blow up two synagogues in the Bronx. |
| He became an F.B.I. informant after being charged in 2002 with a scheme involving taking money to illegally help people in the Albany area get driver’s licenses. | He became an F.B.I. informant after being charged in 2002 with a scheme involving taking money to illegally help people in the Albany area get driver’s licenses. |
| The intersection where the accident occurred was known among residents as being notoriously dangerous: a tricky T-shape, where east-west traffic often sped by in excess of the posted 50 m.p.h. speed limit. | The intersection where the accident occurred was known among residents as being notoriously dangerous: a tricky T-shape, where east-west traffic often sped by in excess of the posted 50 m.p.h. speed limit. |
| “This has long been a source of discord in Schoharie,” said Rosemary Christoff Dolan, who had visited the accident site on Sunday. | “This has long been a source of discord in Schoharie,” said Rosemary Christoff Dolan, who had visited the accident site on Sunday. |
| In fact, officials from the state Department of Transportation had described the intersection as a “high-accident’’ location and had planned to turn it into a roundabout to improve safety. | In fact, officials from the state Department of Transportation had described the intersection as a “high-accident’’ location and had planned to turn it into a roundabout to improve safety. |
| The police said that the limousine had been traveling downhill toward the intersection when it failed to stop, crossing the busy highway, and then hitting the second vehicle in the parking lot of the Apple Barrel, a local shop, and the two pedestrians nearby. The limousine then crashed into a shallow ravine. | The police said that the limousine had been traveling downhill toward the intersection when it failed to stop, crossing the busy highway, and then hitting the second vehicle in the parking lot of the Apple Barrel, a local shop, and the two pedestrians nearby. The limousine then crashed into a shallow ravine. |
| Questions about the safety and regulation of such oversized vehicles have also been raised. According to the State Police, limousine drivers are required to wear a seatbelt but passengers who are often riding in open spaces in the back are not. A lack of any restraint can cause serious injuries in a crash — only one person inside the limousine on Saturday survived the initial impact before being pronounced dead at a hospital in Albany. | Questions about the safety and regulation of such oversized vehicles have also been raised. According to the State Police, limousine drivers are required to wear a seatbelt but passengers who are often riding in open spaces in the back are not. A lack of any restraint can cause serious injuries in a crash — only one person inside the limousine on Saturday survived the initial impact before being pronounced dead at a hospital in Albany. |
| On Monday, Mr. Cuomo seemed to question whether more legislative oversight of the industry was the answer. “I don’t know that this a situation where you can find a new law or a new regulation,” he said. | On Monday, Mr. Cuomo seemed to question whether more legislative oversight of the industry was the answer. “I don’t know that this a situation where you can find a new law or a new regulation,” he said. |
| Similar oversized vehicles have been involved in fatal accidents in New York before: In 2015, a limousine carrying a bridal party of eight women crashed into a pickup truck on Long Island, in Cutchogue, N.Y., killing four people. | Similar oversized vehicles have been involved in fatal accidents in New York before: In 2015, a limousine carrying a bridal party of eight women crashed into a pickup truck on Long Island, in Cutchogue, N.Y., killing four people. |
| As the investigation into the crash continues, families of the victims continue to grapple with the fallout from the crash. | As the investigation into the crash continues, families of the victims continue to grapple with the fallout from the crash. |
| “They were all friends,” said Valerie Abeling, Ms. McGowan’s aunt. “Most of them were lifelong friends. Relatives, cousins, family.” | “They were all friends,” said Valerie Abeling, Ms. McGowan’s aunt. “Most of them were lifelong friends. Relatives, cousins, family.” |
| Ms. Healey, Ms. McGowan’s friend, said she was supposed to go on the trip, but could not make it. She had a cold. | Ms. Healey, Ms. McGowan’s friend, said she was supposed to go on the trip, but could not make it. She had a cold. |