Five die in limousine fire
- Thread starter Fred Zed
- Start date
It was a group of women either they panicked and stampeded fighting with each other to get out first or they just sat and waited for the man to hold the door open for them
In California a limousine is considered a Common Carrier and hence the limousine company has a heightened duty of care to its passengers.
It does seem strange at first glance that the only person to escape unscathed was the limousine driver did he make any attempt to save the women who were killed, were the doors locked from the inside (which would seen both strange and highly dangerous)?
It does seem strange at first glance that the only person to escape unscathed was the limousine driver did he make any attempt to save the women who were killed, were the doors locked from the inside (which would seen both strange and highly dangerous)?
The story states that there were 9 female passengers and that 4 managed to escape.
A limousine traveling on a major bridge in the San Francisco area burst into flames, killing five female passengers who were trapped inside and injuring four others who escaped, authorities said Sunday.
The limo was carrying nine female passengers and a male driver when it caught fire late Saturday on the San Mateo bridge, California Highway Patrol officer Art Montiel told The Associated Press.
Five occupants became trapped, while four others suffered injuries but managed to get out after the vehicle came to a stop on the bridge, the patrol said. The driver escaped uninjured.
Montiel said that the victims were all in their 30s. Authorities said the names of the dead would be released once families have been notified.
The blaze occurred around 10 p.m. on westbound lanes of the bridge, which connects San Mateo and Alameda counties, about 20 miles southeast of San Francisco.
The patrol said that smoke started coming out of the rear of the limo, and the driver pulled over as the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames. Officers were trying to determine the cause of the blaze, which wasn't the result of an accident.
“We have no idea right now where they were going or where they were coming from,” CHP officer Amelia Jack told KGO-TV.
Two of the women who escaped were taken to Stanford Hospital and the two others were taken to Valley Medical Center in San Jose. All four are being treated for smoke inhalation and burns.
The westbound lanes of the bridge were closed as officers investigated the cause of the deadly fire, but the patrol said one lane of traffic reopened early Sunday.
Sad story, and tragic for those who escaped and witnessed their friends perish.
Indeed it does, however, the article does not answer questions such as was there a mechanical reason they were unable to get out of the limousine, did the driver make any attempt to rescue them, was there negligence in the maintenance of the limousine which caused it to catch on fire etc. . . . .
On the other hand I agree with Whiteguy that the fire looks like it was quite intense, with nine women in the limousine it could be that only the first four were able to get out before the fire became so intense that the remaining five were physically unable to get out. Lots of unanswered questions.
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Just below the limo article is an article about a Canadian man found dead, tied to a tree in Mexico.
If the door to the limo was at the back where the fire started.....and no other doors on it....looks like they may not have been able to get out past the flames....smoke in that kind of enclosed area will finish it pretty quickly.
From this photograph taken by a passenger in another car, it looks like you may very well be correct.
Usually those stretch limos only have the one door at the back so more room for the couches. Wonder if something like this will cause a law change for more than one exit to be placed.
From this photograph taken by a passenger in another car, it looks like you may very well be correct.
And what the sam hill would cause a fire like that to start? I wonder if it was a natural gas limo with the tank in the trunk........
In fairness it is now reported that the driver did attempt to get to the passengers but the fire was too intense. Also that the four who escaped where dragged out of the Limousine by bypassers.
Doubtless a large civil lawsuit will be forthcoming unless the limousine company's insurer decides to make very generous settlement offers.
Doubtless a large civil lawsuit will be forthcoming unless the limousine company's insurer decides to make very generous settlement offers.
Years ago, a friend of mine owned his own garage and being a gear-head, I used to hang around his shop and just soak up the learning.
Anyway, one day, this stretch limo came in for one reason or another and we were all so fucking impressed (being much younger and all and easy to impress).
So my friend puts it up on the hoist.
What a fucking disaster that car was. Basically, they took this Lincoln and sawed it in half. Then the butchers got in there and literally welded small I beams to either stump of the frame, and some crudely fashioned floor sections, etc. The body panels themselves were bought from a company in the states that made the body panels to get you set up.
All the brake lines, fuel lines, wiring, was just a patch work quilt of some guy who didn't really care.
I clearly remember the 3 of us 20 something gear heads being amazed that such a buggy was even on the road. Looking back, there was no way such a vehicle could have ever passed a SAE conformance program. No way. I can only guess that it was plated as a passenger car and simply converted. I dunno.
This I do know.....
I've never wanted to ride in one since.
Anyway, one day, this stretch limo came in for one reason or another and we were all so fucking impressed (being much younger and all and easy to impress).
So my friend puts it up on the hoist.
What a fucking disaster that car was. Basically, they took this Lincoln and sawed it in half. Then the butchers got in there and literally welded small I beams to either stump of the frame, and some crudely fashioned floor sections, etc. The body panels themselves were bought from a company in the states that made the body panels to get you set up.
All the brake lines, fuel lines, wiring, was just a patch work quilt of some guy who didn't really care.
I clearly remember the 3 of us 20 something gear heads being amazed that such a buggy was even on the road. Looking back, there was no way such a vehicle could have ever passed a SAE conformance program. No way. I can only guess that it was plated as a passenger car and simply converted. I dunno.
This I do know.....
I've never wanted to ride in one since.
Seemingly you are correct about the number and placement of doors.
The owner of a rival limousine company is quoted saying "It was an aged piece of equipment and I don't believe it had the extra door and they would have to climb over each other and exit through the rear doors"
don't they have huge sunroofs which are commonly used by drunk passengers to scream out of and flash their boobs etc?
btw when I was in a limo like that the last time I remember seeing on the wall a little red hammer for breaking the windows.
btw when I was in a limo like that the last time I remember seeing on the wall a little red hammer for breaking the windows.
The CHP says that the limousine was only licensed to carry eight passengers.
Also, I've been told that there is a clip on the television news that shows very heavy smoke pouring from the drivers window just after the limousine had pulled over.
Also, I've been told that there is a clip on the television news that shows very heavy smoke pouring from the drivers window just after the limousine had pulled over.
