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In this photo from Saturday, October 6, 2018, emergency personnel intervene at the scene of a fatal accident in Schoharie, N.Y. (WTEN via AP) (Associated Press)
SCHOHARIE, NY – An accident involving a limo at a tourist site in upstate New York has killed 20 people, officials said Sunday.
A person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press that 18 of the victims were in the limousine and two were passersby. The person was not allowed to publicly discuss preliminary information and spoke on Sunday under the guise of anonymity.
Local officials told The Times Union of Albany that a limousine was hurtling down a hill hit by passersby Saturday afternoon at the Apple Barrel Country Store in Schoharie, about 270 km north of New York.
State police on Sunday confirmed the death toll and said the accident involved two vehicles.
The store is a popular stop for tourists during fall foliage trips.
Customers on the parking lot were killed when the limousine hit the hill down a hill on Highway 30 at "probably over 60 mph," store manager Jessica Kirby told the New York Times.
On Saturday, in a Facebook message, the store thanked the emergency responders for their actions. The store announced Sunday that it was open "and could use your hugs."
Witnesses described the chaos, with massive participation of ambulances and other responders.
"I heard screams. It sounded serious because people were running in all directions, "said Schoharie's Bridey Finegan at WNYT NewsChannel 13.
The authorities did not disclose the names of the victims nor other information, but the state police set up a direct phone line for family members. The National Transportation Safety Board Investigates.
A press conference is scheduled for the afternoon.
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David Klepper, a writer from the Associated Press in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
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