Bride-to-be among 5 dead in California limousine fire, mother of survivor says

Published May 05, 2013

Associated Press

SAN MATEO, Calif. –  A limousine traveling on a major bridge in the San Francisco area burst into flames, killing five passengers who were trapped inside and injuring four others who escaped, authorities said.

The limo was carrying nine passengers and a driver when it caught fire late Saturday night on the San Mateo bridge, California Highway Patrol officer Art Montiel told the Contra Costa Times.

Five occupants became trapped, while the four others suffered injuries but managed to get out after the vehicle came to a stop on the bridge, the patrol said. The driver escaped uninjured.

KGO reports that the victims were all women who are believed to be in their 30s.

The blaze occurred around 10 p.m. PDT on westbound lanes of the bridge, which connects San Mateo and Alemada counties, about 20 miles southeast of San Francisco.

The patrol said that smoke started coming out of the rear of the limo, and the driver pulled over as the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames. Officers were trying to determine the cause of the blaze, which wasn't the result of an accident.

"We have no idea right now where they were going or where they were coming from," CHP officer Amelia Jack told KGO.

Of the survivors, Jack said one had severe burns and three others suffered minor to moderate injuries that included smoke inhalation. The four were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Several lanes of the bridge were closed as officers investigated the cause of the deadly fire, but the patrol said one lane of traffic reopened early Sunday.

Authorities said the names of the dead would be released once families have been notifice.

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Lincoln limousine built for Pope Paul VI on display at America's Car Museum

While the Catholic church prepares to elect a new Pope in Rome, an interesting piece of papal history is on display in Tacoma.

In 1965 the Vatican asked Ford to provide a limousine for Pope Paul VI to use during his visit to New York City to speak before the United Nations and at Yankee Stadium.

The automaker contracted noted Chicago limousine builder Lehmann-Peterson to prepare a special version of the stretched Lincoln Continentals it was known for.

In just two weeks, the shop converted its original 1964 Continental prototype into a 21-foot long car suitable for the task, complete with running boards for his Swiss guards, a raised seat for the pontiff and a removable roof, fold down transparent landaulet-style rear window and bulletproof shield.

In 1968, the car, which had been damaged in storage, was called into Papal duty again for a trip to Bogota, Columbia, but only after undergoing a complete restoration and engine modifications to deal with the city’s extreme altitude, which required that it run on aviation fuel.

Later that year, the car became an indelible part of U.S. history, when it was used to parade the astronauts of Apollo 8 through the streets of Chicago, after their historic trip around the Moon. It would go on to do the same for the crews of Apollo 11, 13 and 15.

The car eventually found its way into private ownership and changed hands several times over the years, the last in 2011 when it was sold at auction to an anonymous collector in Washington for $220,000.

The car is currently on loan to America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, one of the largest collections of classic cars in the country, where it will be on display for the next three months.

It’s unlikely that the new Pope will request its use again, but if he ever visits the Pacific Northwest, he’ll know where to find it.

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