---
title: "UPDATE: Limo Crash in NY Kills 20, Becomes Deadliest Transportation Accident in US Since 2009"
description: "It has now been confirmed that the limousine had failed inspection one month before transporting the since-deceased passengers."
date: "2018-10-08"
modified: "2018-10-08"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/24099/limo-crash-in-ny-kills-20-becomes-deadliest-transportation-accident-in-us-since-2009"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Car Crash"
  - "Limo"
  - "New York"
  - "News"
---

# UPDATE: Limo Crash in NY Kills 20, Becomes Deadliest Transportation Accident in US Since 2009

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/10/limo-crash-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A limo crash in upstate New York that killed 20 people is officially the [deadliest](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/11287/the-isle-of-man-tt-is-the-worlds-deadliest-race-and-thats-why-people-come>) U.S. transportation accident since February 2009, when a Continental Airlines flight crashed into a house and killed 50 people. The reason for the crash, which killed all 18 limo occupants and two pedestrians on Saturday, is still being investigated.

According to [*CNN*](<https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/07/us/new-york-limo-crash/index.html>), the limo was transporting a family to a brewery near Cooperstown, New York, to celebrate the birthday of Amy Steenburg, a 30-year-old who had just tied the knot a month ago. Steenburg's husband, her four sisters, and their respective husbands all died in the accident. Two of the siblings involved were also parents, leaving a 10- and 14-year-old behind according to [*People*](<https://people.com/human-interest/victims-limo-crash-sisters-husbands-newlyweds/>).

The couple had hired what appears to be a coach bus of some sort to transport the partygoers to the brewery, but they were contacted shortly before the vehicle's arrival and told that the bus had broken down, so a stretched [2001 Ford Excursion](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/10154/watch-an-idiot-do-everything-wrong-off-road-almost-destroy-ford-f250>) would be provided instead. According to [*Fox News*](<https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-york-crash-victim-text-messaged-that-limo-was-in-terrible-condition-before-accident-killed-20>), the aunt of one of the victims had received a text message prior to the accident that claimed the Excursion was in "terrible condition."

It has since been announced by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo that the Excursion had failed inspection one month prior to transporting the passengers and, additionally, the driver was not licensed to pilot the vehicle. According to Governor Cuomo, the limo was "not supposed to be on the road."

https://twitter.com/_/status/1048959589436334086

Local authorities haven't released the exact cause of the accident but did share that the speeding is believed to be a factor. The intersection the Excursion lost control at has a speed limit of 50 miles per hour, so it was [considered a high-speed crash](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23767/nissan-gt-r-driver-dead-after-200-mph-crash-at-questionable-airstrip-race>). After failing to stop at the intersection, the limo impacted a parked Toyota Highlander, which allegedly struck and killed two pedestrians before the Excursion came to rest on a nearby ditch.

Governor Cuomo shared his condolences to the families involved via Twitter, calling the events "horrific" and claiming that state agencies will do everything they can to aid in the investigation. Meanwhile, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt also said an NTSB team would investigate the crash.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1049045925950361601

***Update at 2:20 p.m. EST:*** After this article was originally published, news broke of the limo's below-par roadworthiness and a failed inspection was confirmed. That information is now reflected in the body of the text above.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)