NataliaLA
05-06-2013, 12:19 AM
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california/Limo-Fire-Traps-Occupants-Closes-San-Mateo-Bridge-206142021.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_LABrand
A bridal shower turned tragic on Saturday when five women in their 30s died after the stretch limousine they were riding in burst into flames on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.
A bride was among the women killed. A family member told NBC Bay Area the woman was recently married here in the United States, but was also planning a wedding in the Philippines on June 19.
The victim's sister-in-law Lovela Nicolas identified her as Neriza Fojas. Fojas was a registered nurse at Fresno Community Regional Medical Center, according to her family.
Four other people in the limo escaped with burn and smoke inhalation injuries, California Highway Patrol Officer Art Montiel said. The car's driver was unhurt.
The CHP credits good Samaritans who stopped and some of the women get out of a rear door. The fourth woman managed to squeeze through the front partition that separates the driver from the passengers.
The coroner on the case is telling a harrowing tale of the fire and desperate attempt to get out of the limo.
San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault told NBC Bay Area's Diane Dwyer that the scene last night was the worst he's witnessed after 20 years on the job.
He said it was obvious to him that the women were trying to get out of the vehicle and were overcome by smoke. "My understanding is that three passengers got out the side back door on the drivers side, and one made it out the passenger compartment window successfully - to the driver's compartment," Fourcrault said.
Fourcrault said passengers alerted the driver that there was smoke in the passenger compartment so he pulled over, got out and discovered that the back passenger side of the limo was fully engulfed in flames.
The coroner said three of the women made it out the back door on the driver's side. One made it through the divider into the driver's area.
The remaining women did not survive and were found near the front of the passenger compartment as if they were trying to get to the driver's area through the privacy divider. The coroner's office plans to use dental records Monday to positively identify the victims.
The highway patrol officer on the scene Saturday night said the women were "probably killed by the fire," though the cause of death has not been confirmed.
Witnesses told NBC Bay area the white Lincoln Town Car was not involved in an accident prior to catching on fire. It was not clear what could have sparked the flames.
The names of those killed have not been released, but the CHP released the names, ages and hometowns of the women who survived and the driver.
The driver was identified as Orville Brown, 46, of San Jose.
The passengers who survived were Jasmine Desguia, 34, of San Jose; Mary G. Guardiano, 42, of Alameda; Nelia Arrellano, 36, of Oakland; and Amalia Loyola, 48, of San Leandro.
The surviving passengers were taken to Valley Medical Center and Stanford Hospital for treatment for burns and smoke inhalation.
The car was driving from Alameda to Foster City, Montiel said.
When asked if an "explosion" had occurred, Montiel told NBC News it was unconfirmed, however, he did say the "vehicle was partially engulfed."'
A viewer named David Solomon sent in the pictures. The photos show the fire was in the rear of the vehicle.
The fire was first reported around 10 p.m. in the third lane of westbound state Highway 92, according to the CHP.
The bridge, located about 20 miles southeast of San Francisco, connects San Mateo and Alamada counties. The westbound lanes were closed for several hours.
A bridal shower turned tragic on Saturday when five women in their 30s died after the stretch limousine they were riding in burst into flames on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.
A bride was among the women killed. A family member told NBC Bay Area the woman was recently married here in the United States, but was also planning a wedding in the Philippines on June 19.
The victim's sister-in-law Lovela Nicolas identified her as Neriza Fojas. Fojas was a registered nurse at Fresno Community Regional Medical Center, according to her family.
Four other people in the limo escaped with burn and smoke inhalation injuries, California Highway Patrol Officer Art Montiel said. The car's driver was unhurt.
The CHP credits good Samaritans who stopped and some of the women get out of a rear door. The fourth woman managed to squeeze through the front partition that separates the driver from the passengers.
The coroner on the case is telling a harrowing tale of the fire and desperate attempt to get out of the limo.
San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault told NBC Bay Area's Diane Dwyer that the scene last night was the worst he's witnessed after 20 years on the job.
He said it was obvious to him that the women were trying to get out of the vehicle and were overcome by smoke. "My understanding is that three passengers got out the side back door on the drivers side, and one made it out the passenger compartment window successfully - to the driver's compartment," Fourcrault said.
Fourcrault said passengers alerted the driver that there was smoke in the passenger compartment so he pulled over, got out and discovered that the back passenger side of the limo was fully engulfed in flames.
The coroner said three of the women made it out the back door on the driver's side. One made it through the divider into the driver's area.
The remaining women did not survive and were found near the front of the passenger compartment as if they were trying to get to the driver's area through the privacy divider. The coroner's office plans to use dental records Monday to positively identify the victims.
The highway patrol officer on the scene Saturday night said the women were "probably killed by the fire," though the cause of death has not been confirmed.
Witnesses told NBC Bay area the white Lincoln Town Car was not involved in an accident prior to catching on fire. It was not clear what could have sparked the flames.
The names of those killed have not been released, but the CHP released the names, ages and hometowns of the women who survived and the driver.
The driver was identified as Orville Brown, 46, of San Jose.
The passengers who survived were Jasmine Desguia, 34, of San Jose; Mary G. Guardiano, 42, of Alameda; Nelia Arrellano, 36, of Oakland; and Amalia Loyola, 48, of San Leandro.
The surviving passengers were taken to Valley Medical Center and Stanford Hospital for treatment for burns and smoke inhalation.
The car was driving from Alameda to Foster City, Montiel said.
When asked if an "explosion" had occurred, Montiel told NBC News it was unconfirmed, however, he did say the "vehicle was partially engulfed."'
A viewer named David Solomon sent in the pictures. The photos show the fire was in the rear of the vehicle.
The fire was first reported around 10 p.m. in the third lane of westbound state Highway 92, according to the CHP.
The bridge, located about 20 miles southeast of San Francisco, connects San Mateo and Alamada counties. The westbound lanes were closed for several hours.