The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary two-page report on the limo crash in Schoharie that took the lives of 20 people in October 2018.
Some of the details in the report include:
- The limo did not stop at the intersection of NY 30 and NY-30A
- A witness says the limo was traveling at a high rate of speed
- 20 people were killed, including the 2 pedestrians who were approaching their parked vehicle and all 18 limousine occupants
- The original 137-inch-long wheelbase for the 2001 Ford Excursion had been lengthened by 180 inches to increase the seating capacity to 18 occupants (including the driver)
- To accommodate the additional passenger capacity, non-OEM (original equipment manufacturer) seats were installed in the vehicle. These non-OEM seats were equipped with lap belts and oriented passengers away from a traditional forward-facing seating configuration
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to gather information on the modifications and mechanical condition of the vehicle, the seat belt usage and survivability of the passengers, and the oversight of the passenger-carrying operation by the New York State Department of Transportation and New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
- All aspects of the Schoharie, New York, crash remain under investigation as the NTSB focuses on determining the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes
CLICK HERE to see the full preliminary report.
Photo: NTSB