Limo involved in New York crash that killed 20 had failed prior inspection, records show

[TexasTowelie]

The driver of the stretch limousine involved in a crash that killed 20 people in Upstate New York on Saturday did not have the proper license to be operating the vehicle, New York State Police officials said Monday. Additionally, the limo, a converted 2001 Ford Expedition, had failed at least one prior safety inspection and the company that owned it had a record of noncompliance with state and federal requirements, according to officials and public records.

Authorities seized the company's vehicles Monday, as police investigated whether anyone was criminally liable. A separate safety probe, led by the National Transportation Safety Board, was underway at the crash site in Schoharie, about 30 miles west of Albany.

"We'll determine if there is any criminal culpability on the part of anyone," New York State Police Major Robert Patnaude said at a news conference Monday.

Authorities said the limousine company, Prestige Limousine, was cooperating in the investigation. Its owner, Shahed Hussain, was out of the country, officials told reporters.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/accidents/4510577-limo-involved-new-york-crash-killed-20-had-failed-prior-inspection-records

[3Hotdogs]

1. Failed safety inspections can include both significant and less serious violations, such as burned

out light bulbs.

Significant violations result in the vehicle being stopped and kept on the side of the road until the violation is corrected or until the vehicle is towed. The article does not mention "out of service" violations.

Impairment could be a problem. The cause could also be heart attack or stroke.

The company will be fined for the driver not having the proper license.