This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/06/bride-among-five-killed-limousine-fire
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco limousine fire kills five including newlywed bride | San Francisco limousine fire kills five including newlywed bride |
| (8 days later) | |
| A limousine taking nine women to a night on the town to celebrate a newlywed bride burst into flames, killing five of the passengers who were trapped inside as the other four escaped with burn and smoke inhalation injuries, authorities said on Sunday. Relatives said the bride was among the dead. | A limousine taking nine women to a night on the town to celebrate a newlywed bride burst into flames, killing five of the passengers who were trapped inside as the other four escaped with burn and smoke inhalation injuries, authorities said on Sunday. Relatives said the bride was among the dead. |
| The driver, who was not hurt, told investigators he was driving the women on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge on Saturday night when one of them complained of smoke inside the passenger compartment, San Mateo county coroner Robert Foucrault said. | The driver, who was not hurt, told investigators he was driving the women on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge on Saturday night when one of them complained of smoke inside the passenger compartment, San Mateo county coroner Robert Foucrault said. |
| He said he pulled over, got out, and saw the back of the 1999 Lincoln Town Car fully engulfed in flames, Foucrault said. | He said he pulled over, got out, and saw the back of the 1999 Lincoln Town Car fully engulfed in flames, Foucrault said. |
| By the time firefighters rushed to the scene and put out the fire, authorities found five badly burned bodies huddled near the partition that separates the driver from the passengers. | By the time firefighters rushed to the scene and put out the fire, authorities found five badly burned bodies huddled near the partition that separates the driver from the passengers. |
| "My guess would be they were trying to get away from the fire and use that window opening as an escape route," Foucrault said. | "My guess would be they were trying to get away from the fire and use that window opening as an escape route," Foucrault said. |
| He said other motorists helped three women get out of the rear right door, and a fourth woman managed to squeeze through the partition. | He said other motorists helped three women get out of the rear right door, and a fourth woman managed to squeeze through the partition. |
| The San Mateo fire department was investigating the cause of the fire, while the coroner's office was working with the California highway patrol to determine whether a crime had occurred. | The San Mateo fire department was investigating the cause of the fire, while the coroner's office was working with the California highway patrol to determine whether a crime had occurred. |
| "We don't believe there is," Foucrault said. | "We don't believe there is," Foucrault said. |
| Relatives told the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News that one of the dead was Neriza Fojas, 31, a registered nurse from Fresno who recently married and was planning to repeat her marriage vows in the Philippines next month. | Relatives told the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News that one of the dead was Neriza Fojas, 31, a registered nurse from Fresno who recently married and was planning to repeat her marriage vows in the Philippines next month. |
| A photo taken by a witness and broadcast on KTVU-TV showed flames shooting from the back of the limo. | A photo taken by a witness and broadcast on KTVU-TV showed flames shooting from the back of the limo. |
| Aerial video shot after the incident showed the back half of the limousine had been scorched by the fire. Its taillights and bumper were gone and it appeared to be resting on its rims, but the remainder of the vehicle did not appear to be damaged. | Aerial video shot after the incident showed the back half of the limousine had been scorched by the fire. Its taillights and bumper were gone and it appeared to be resting on its rims, but the remainder of the vehicle did not appear to be damaged. |
| The driver – 46-year-old Orville Brown – was the only person to escape unhurt. | The driver – 46-year-old Orville Brown – was the only person to escape unhurt. |
| Brown's brother told the Chronicle the flames spread before he could help the women escape. | Brown's brother told the Chronicle the flames spread before he could help the women escape. |
| "He tried to get everybody out," Lewis Brown Junior said. "He told me: 'Man, it was so fast.' He said: 'I've never seen anything like it in my life.'" | "He tried to get everybody out," Lewis Brown Junior said. "He told me: 'Man, it was so fast.' He said: 'I've never seen anything like it in my life.'" |
| Autopsies of the five women were being conducted, and medical examiners will try to identify them by using dental records, Foucrault said. | Autopsies of the five women were being conducted, and medical examiners will try to identify them by using dental records, Foucrault said. |
| The four other women who escaped the fire, Mary G Guardiano, 42, Jasmine Desguia, 34, Nelia Arrellano, 36, and Amalia Loyola, 48, were being treated at nearby hospitals, the highway patrol said. | The four other women who escaped the fire, Mary G Guardiano, 42, Jasmine Desguia, 34, Nelia Arrellano, 36, and Amalia Loyola, 48, were being treated at nearby hospitals, the highway patrol said. |
| Desguia and Loyola were described as being in critical condition, said Joy Alexiou, a spokeswoman for Valley Medical Center. The condition of Arrellano, who was taken to another hospital, was not known. | Desguia and Loyola were described as being in critical condition, said Joy Alexiou, a spokeswoman for Valley Medical Center. The condition of Arrellano, who was taken to another hospital, was not known. |
| The company that operated the limousine was identified as Limo Stop. | The company that operated the limousine was identified as Limo Stop. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |