SF Limo Fire: Unavoidable Accident, Driver Not At Fault

So said California Highway Patrol Capt. Mike Maskarich at a news conference with other officials to announce the findings of a multi-agency investigation into the May 4 tragedy that killed 5 women heading to a wedding party.

When the limo's rear air suspension system failed, its floorboard scraped against the drive shaft, creating friction and heat that ignited the blaze.

San Francisco Chronicle:

"The overall nature of this tragedy was not one that was foreseeable," he said.

No criminal charges will be filed against either the limousine driver or owner, officials said. However, the state Public Utilities Commission is issuing a $7,500 citation to the owner, Limo Stop Inc. of San Jose, for failure to operate safely by having more passengers than seat belts.

"Some tragedies are crimes and some are not - and this one is not," said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. "It's a horrific tragedy. It's changed lives forever."

Hmmm, who to believe . . . Roulette Man spouting off here a few hours after the fire was put out? Or a multi-agency report that took months to produce?

Such a hard choice lol

Nice troll.

You have misinterpreted what I said (what's new?)

I mean that he should have been more aware of the situation and should have stopped and evacuated instead of continuing to drive with women banging on the window screaming their heads off.

Now go take your little miserable self away from this board. You are disgusting.

Quoting (ahem) myself from that same thread:

"When it comes to making wildly inaccurate assumptions about a crime, let's just say that Roulette Man has a bit of a history here..."

I never claimed it was a crime. I implied he was probably negligent.

You two really need to get a life. Just how much character do the two of you lack, when you play your little immature gotcha games on the tragedy of people who have died in a horrible accident?

I find it hard to believe that the driver could be completely unaware of the disaster that was taking place just a few inches from where he was sitting. Apparently he could not notice the noise made with the axle scraping the bottom of the car with all of the screaming and pounding on the window taking place. The $7500 fine will be of great comfort to the victims families. I do wonder just what Chilcoot and forkush would be saying if the victims were members of their family.