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According to their families, two newlyweds and a young couple from upstate New York have been victims of a fatal limousine crash this weekend.
The newlyweds Erin Vertucci, 34, and Shane McGowan, 30, were among the 20 people killed near Albany on Saturday, said their family, in what officials describe as the most transportation accident. killer of the country for almost ten years.
The newlyweds were going to a birthday party with another couple and several other friends when their stretched limousine jumped a stop sign and crashed into an unoccupied sport utility vehicle in Schoharie, 43 km away. West Albany, announced the authorities.
Investigators did not reveal details about the victims, but officials said the 18 occupants of the limo had been killed, as well as two pedestrians standing nearby, the authorities said.
The Associated Press
Chris Fiore, first deputy superintendent of police in the state of New York, said the limousine had failed to stop at the intersection. The maximum speed allowed on this road is 50 mph, but the speed at which the Ford limousine was going quickly was not clearly defined, he said.
"I've been a board member for 12 years and this is one of the biggest casualties I've seen in a long time," said Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "This is the most deadly transport accident in this country since February 2009."
"It is important to understand what happened and why, to prevent such events from happening again," he added.
The company that operated the vehicle, Prestige Limousine, had five vehicles inspected in the past five years and four vehicles were decommissioned, according to Department of Transportation records. The company has had no accidents in the last two years, according to the archives.
Limos, which are cut by second-stage manufacturers and whose length is extensive, are not subject to any regulatory agency. New York Senator Chuck Schumer advocated enhanced safety measures for limousines and said he was "torn apart" by the tragedy.
The authorities did not confirm the identity of the victims, but Barbara Douglas said her nieces were among the passengers killed.
"I had four nieces, all of them dead, they were inside," Douglas told ABC News without identifying them.
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Karina Halse said the investigators identified her 26-year-old sister Amanda Halse and 31-year-old boyfriend Patrick Cushing as passengers.
Amanda Halse and Cushing, who had been dating for about a year, were traveling with their friends to a party at the Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, about an hour west of Schoharie, when the accident occurred, Karina Halse said. to "Good Morning America".
"I mean, she told me that she had a limousine and that she was going to this Cooperstown brewery.This morning I saw a limousine accident and 20 dead ", said Karina Halse, 21, to" GMA. " two together, hoping that it was not true. But then it happened to be true. "
She added that her sister had sent her an SMS just an hour before the accident to tell her about the limo, but she was not able to answer in time.
The Associated Press
"I was at work yesterday, so I did not answer him before around 2 pm. When I heard about the accident just before 2 pm, I was late to answer him, "Karina Halse said. "But I just knew that something was wrong when she did not answer me right away."
The authorities informed Halse of the death of her sister about a day after the accident, crushing her and leaving her family in a state of total shock, she said.
"She was just a great human being all around. She just wanted to make sure everyone was happy and that she was a family peacekeeper, "said Karina Halse. "You know that she was the best sister I could have had in my life.
"I am so grateful to have her and I will cherish her memory forever," she added.
Karina Halse
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo extended his condolences to all the families of the victims in a statement released on Sunday.
"I join with all New Yorkers in mourning these deaths and sharing the unspeakable grief that their families and loved ones are experiencing during this extremely difficult time," said the governor. "The state police are working with federal and local authorities to investigate this accident and I have asked state agencies to provide all the resources necessary to contribute to this investigation and determine what which led to this tragedy. "
The Associated Press
The investigators had not published any information about the limousine or its driver early Monday morning.
A vigil will be held Monday night for the victims, including many from Amsterdam (New York), Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook, said the New York State Deputy Angelo Santabarbara.
Wil Cruz, David Kerley, Whitney Lloyd and Suzanne Yeo of ABC News contributed to this report.
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