Schoharie Crash: Flags To Half-Staff In New York

SCHOHARIE, NY — As the National Transportation Safety Board and New York State Police continue their investigation into Saturday's stretch-limo crash, Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed flags to half-staff. Twenty people died, including 17 passengers on a birthday jaunt, two pedestrians, and the driver.

It is one of the country's worst crashes, NTSB board chairman Robert Sumwalt told the media. "I've been on the board for 12 years and this is one of the biggest losses of life ... This is the most deadly transportation accident in this country since February of 2009."

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Cuomo said:

"In the wake of the Schoharie crash, it is hard to fathom the extent of this tragedy. We lost mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, sisters, brothers and friends, and the community will never be the same.

"The entire family of New York mourns for the lives cut short in this crash. In memory of those who were taken from us, I am directing that flags be lowered to half-staff.

"Some of those who tragically died were among our family of State employees, including Justice Center employee Amy King Steenburg, SUNY Oswego professor Brian Hough, and Patrick Cushing, a New York State Senate employee. On behalf of the State of New York, I extend my deepest condolences to the families of all of those lost, their loved ones and coworkers in this incredibly difficult time."

A vigil Monday night in Amsterdam, NY — the hometown of many of the victims — drew thousands of people.

The tragedy happened just before 2 p.m. Saturday. The 2001 Ford Excursion SUV stretch limousine was traveling southwest on State Route 30 and ran a stop sign at the intersection with State Route 30A. It hit another SUV, killing two bystanders, and ended up in a ditch off the parking lot of a country store.

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State police said the owner of Prestige Limousine, Shahed Hussain, is out of the country. A cease-and-desist order stopped company operations, and law enforcement officials seized three of its vehicles. The company's vehicles failed four out of five inspections; the SUV in the crash had failed an inspection last month.

However, a lawyer for the company, Lee Kindlon, told CBS News Tuesday the issues with the vehicle had been fixed.

The NTSB team said it would be examining the airbag control module in the crashed limo, which is the equivalent of a black box.

The NTSB began investigating limo accidents after the deadly crash on Long Island in 2015, when a stretch limo tried to make a quick U-turn and was hit. Four people died.

RELATED: Dad Of Woman Killed In Long Island Limo Crash Speaks On New Horror

ALSO SEE:

• 'Horrific' Schoharie Crash Kills 18 Inside Limo, 2 Pedestrians
• Schoharie Limo Crash: 20 Confirmed Dead
• Schoharie Crash: Limo, Driver Should Not Have Been on The Road
  

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PHOTO: Vigil in Amsterdam/AP Photo/Hans Pennink