SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A
limousine taking nine women to abachelorette party erupted in flames, killing
five of the passengers, including the bride-to-be, authorities and the mother
of one of the survivors said Sunday.
The limo caught fire at
around 10 p.m. Saturday on one of the busiest bridges on San Francisco Bay,
California Highway Patrolofficer Art Montiel told The Associated Press.
Five of the women were
trapped, but the four other women managed to get out after the vehicle came to
a stop on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge, the patrol said.
Rosita Guardiano told
the San Francisco Chronicle that the woman for whom the bachelorette party was
being thrown was to be married next month.
Guardiano said her daughter was one
of the survivors.
Investigators haven't
determined what sparked the fire, but the patrol said the white stretch
limobecame engulfed in flames after smoke started coming out of the rear of the
vehicle.
A photo taken by a
witness and broadcast on KTVU-TV showed flames shooting from the back.
Aerial video shot after
the incident showed about one-third of the back half of the limousine had been
scorched by the fire. Its taillights and bumper were gone and it appeared to be
resting on its rims, but the remainder of the vehicle didn't appear to be
damaged.
The driver of the limo —
46-year-old Orville Brown of San Jose — was the only person to escape unhurt.
It wasn't clear how he
managed to escape without injury. Investigators Sunday afternoon were still
seeking witnesses, the CHP said.
"Four people got
out, as far as what was going on inside, I don't know," CHP officer Jeremy
Lofstrom said Sunday. CHP investigators Sunday afternoon were still seeking
witnesses to the incident.
All five women were
pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsies were being conducted, San Mateo County
Supervising Deputy Coroner Michelle Rippy said.
The company that
operated the limo was identified as Limo Stop, which offers service through
limousines, vans and SUVS.
A telephone message left
at the company seeking comment by The Associated Press wasn't immediately
returned. Attempts to reach the driver were also unsuccessful.
Guardiano said her
daughter — 42-year-old Mary Grace Guardiano of Alameda — was being treated for
smoke inhalation.
The three other women
who escaped the fire, Jasmine Desguia, 34, of San Jose; Nelia Arrellano, 36, of
Oakland; and Amalia Loyola, 48, of San Leandro, were taken to hospitals to be
treated for smoke inhalation and burns, the patrol said.
Desguia and Loyola were
listed in critical condition, said Joy Alexiou, a spokeswoman for Valley
Medical Center. The condition of Arrellano, who was taken to another hospital,
was not known.
SCRIPTURES
LUKE 17:26And as it was
in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27They
did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the
day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the same day that Lot went
out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
JEREMIAH 2:29Wherefore
will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
30In vain have I smitten
your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your
prophets, like a destroying lion.
31O generation, see ye
the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness?
wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
32Can a maid forget her
ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without
number.
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