Transcript for New details on limo crash that killed 20
A criminal investigation under way as officials reveal that the limo company failed recent inspections and the driver did not have the right license for that vehicle. Our senior transportation correspondent David Kerley is there with the latest. Good morning, David. Reporter: The autopsies are still under way. Investigators are taking apart that limo trying to figure out why it crossed this state road at a high rate of speed. Overnight, 2500 people joining in prayers and tears for the victims of that limousine accident, 17 family members and friends taking part in the 30th birthday celebration all killed along with the driver and two pedestrians. They’re narrowing their focus on the driver and the company with New York’s governor charging the driver wasn’t properly licensed and the limo failed inspection just a month ago. The owner of the company had no business putting a failed vehicle on the road. Reporter: Called the black box of the 2001 stretched Ford excursion, the air bag control module is being studied hoping to show the last seconds or milliseconds before the crash when the limo ran through a stop sign and into this parking lot. No signs of skid marks, the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed. The engine from this actually went beyond the driver’s seat behind the driver’s seat? That’s correct. The engine block was pushed back into the driver’s compartment. Behind the seat? It’s hard to tell because there’s so much damage. Reporter: Investigators say that this man owns prestige, the limousine company. He worked as an FBI informant after being arrested for helping immigrants cheat on driver’s tests while working your the dmvment for a time he ran it out of the back room of this low budget hotel. They have a checkered safety record. In five safety inspections over the past two years four vehicles were put out of service, four times the national average. Right now he is out of the country and as crash investigators search for answers it appears that some of the victims may have been worried about that limo’s condition prior to the crash. According to “The New York Times,” one of those killed, Erin mccaoening sent a text expressing concern writing, quote, the motor is making everyone deaf. The company in a statement said it offered its condolences and that it has melt with federal and state investigators already and plans to offer answers as quickly as possible to questions. George, just the shock of the number of deaths, not just here but across the country remains on this story. Boy, it sure does. We’re joined by the attorney for prestige limousine Lee kindlon. We heard governor Cuomo say the vehicle had no business being on the road. Why was it? Well, and good morning, George. Good morning, everyone. You know, prestige had been working with the state to make sure that the vehicles were roadworthy. Every single time the department of transportation investigator or inspector would come out and talk to the guys who operated the company, any sort of minor infraction or major infraction would be fixed and the cars were allowed to be on the road. Just last week, they met with members from the department of transportation for ongoing inspections and the cars were cleared to be on the road. Yeah, but this vehicle failed an inspection just last month. And we understand what the governor is saying, what the department of transportation is saying and certainly it’s in their interest to point away from any failures on behalf of the state. But, you know, as we understand right now, the inspections last month were minor things, windshield wipers, a latch on a window that needed to be fixed and all those things were fixed. And so one of the questions that we’re trying to help answer very honestly is, any of those — excuse me, any of those safety problem, could those have contributed to the crash and we want to make everybody know right now that we’re doing everything we can to answer those questions along with the state. But how do you explain an 80% failure rate, four times the national average for your vehicles overall? Well, you know, the way these fleets go, some of the vehicles are a little older, but, you know, we’re dealing with a small business in upstate New York that’s regulated and, of course, it should be regulated. Every single time they were cited by the state they would take appropriate remedial action, fix whatever was wrong with the vehicles and wait for clearance for those vehicles to get back on the road. You go the problems of the vehicles. You have the problem with the driver. He didn’t have the proper license according to state officials so why was he driving? Well, honestly, George, that’s one of the things we’re looking into, as well. We’re conducting our own internal investigate and doing everything we can to provide documents and whatever we know, whatever prestige and the owners know about the driver to the investigators. Meantime, the owner of the company reportedly in Pakistan right now. So who exactly was in charge of the company while he was away? Well, the owner has been away for a couple of weeks and he spends time both here and overseas. It’s a very common thing for him. The day-to-day operations were his son’s. They handled the calls and the bookings and they handled the maintenance and things like that. So, if, in fact, we need the owner to come back, you know, he’s signaled his willingness to do so if we can aid in the investigation in any way? Are you braced for criminal charges and lawsuits? You know, George, people don’t call me unless a complex investigation with the potential of criminal investigations are likely, so, yes, today we’re going to talk to the district attorney’s office. We’re going to provide as much information as possible to the investigators, but clearly we have two concerns, one is making sure that we provide some sort of solace and apology to the public and making sure that the public knows we’re doing everything we can but also as an attorney I have to make sure that my clients are protected because it seems abundantly clear right now that the state is looking to point fingers and they’re looking for a scapegoat rather than waiting for the investigation to take place. Lee kindlon, thanks for your time this morning. George, it’s a pleasure.
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