The Schoharie limousine crash became one of the deadliest transportation accidents to occur in the United States. The October 2018 crashed killed twenty people, including two pedestrians. Family members of those killed in the crash have all filed lawsuits against multiple parties, including the limousine company, the estate of the driver or the limousine, and the company that last inspected the limousine. The owner of the company is also facing criminal charges in connection with the deadly crash. The crash sparked a number of changes to regulations covering multi-passenger limousines in New York.
The New York Post reports that an investigation determined that seatbelts could have saved lives in the deadly crash.
Never-before-seen photos that were included in the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation reveal the extent of the horrific crash.
The front end of the customized 2001 Ford Excursion limousine was completely crumpled.
The limo, which was being driven by 53-year-old Scott Lisinicchia, sped through a stop sign at a T-intersection. It then barreled into a ravine, killing the driver, all seventeen passengers, and two pedestrians.
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The vehicle, which was operated by Prestige Limousine, suffered from extreme damage. Despite this, the report from the NTSB stated that the rear portions of the limousine came through the crash relatively intact. The agency concluded that had seatbelts been available and had passengers been wearing them, lives could have been saved.
Seatbelts were available to passengers, but they were hidden beneath the seats and virtually invisible to those in the limo.
The driver was wearing his seatbelt and the airbag deployed, but the damage to the limousine was so extensive the crash was not survivable.
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