NEW YORK – The owner of a limousine company in the crash that killed 20people in upstate New York on Saturday afternoon was Monday identified asShahed Hussain, a Pakistani immigrant, who is currently out of the UnitedStates, according to American media reports citing police officials.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said the modified limo that crashed inthe quaint town of Schoharie was not even supposed to be on the road.
He said Prestige Limousine, which Hussain owns, “has a lot of questions toanswer” after the deadly crash. “In my opinion, the owner of this companyhad no business putting a failed vehicle on the road,” Cuomo said.Moreover, the driver, Scott Lisinicchia, 53, “did not have the appropriatedriver’s license to be operating that vehicle,” Cuomo said on Monday asauthorities stepped up the probe to find out what caused the tragedy.
Official records cited by news reports also show Prestige Limousines, thecompany that owns the limo, has been cited for 22 violations in the last 24months, CBS News reported.
On Monday, Prestige Limousine company said it was investigating what causedSaturday’s crash and had met state and federal authorities. A lawyer forthe company wouldn’t comment further.
Read Top Stories
Twenty people were killed in Saturday’s crash, including the driver and twopedestrians. Among the victims were four sisters and three of theirhusbands. They were celebrating one woman’s 30th birthday.The birthday party guests were riding in a 2001 Ford Expedition that wasconverted into a limousine.
Authorities are now examining when and how the vehicle was converted andwhat caused this tragedy. – APP
