A relaxed weekend afternoon turned into chaos at an upstate New York spot popular with tourists taking in the fall foliage when a crash involving a limousine left 20 people dead, officials said Sunday.
A person with knowledge of the investigation told the Associated Press that 18 of the victims in Saturday afternoon’s crash at the Apple Barrel Country Store were in the limo and two were bystanders.
Roads were closed for several hours amid a reportedly "massive" response for the quiet region of Schoharie County.
At least six ambulances, two helicopter units and three fire companies responded to the emergency, the Times Union reported, with first responders and state police working throughout the night to reconstruct the crash.
Reports suggested the limo was speeding down a hill and crashed into bystanders at the Apple Barrel Country Store in Schoharie, about 170 miles north of New York City. The crash “sounded like an explosion,” Linda Riley, of nearby Schenectady, who was on a shopping trip with her sisters and had been in their parked car at the time at the store, which sits near a T-junction of two New York state highways, told the AP.
Customers in the parking lot were killed when they were hit by the limo coming down a hill on state Route 30 at "probably over 60 mph," the store manager, Jessica Kirby, told the New York Times.
Witnesses described chaos, with a massive turnout of ambulances and other responders.
“I heard some screaming. It looked serious because people were running back and forth,” Bridey Finegan of Schoharie told WNYT NewsChannel 13 .
The Apple Barrel Country Store is a popular spot for people looking at autumn leaves, owned and operated by locals.
In a message posted to its Facebook page, the Apple Barrel Country Store said “our hearts and prayers go out to everyone that was affected by the events.”
"We will be collecting donations for our local volunteer emergency services," the post read. "They are the heroes of our small community."
The wreckage could still be seen on Sunday, as residents and local reporters tweeted photos showing hair brushes, tail lights and tires along the side of the road. Tracks and skid marks appeared to have damaged the grassland area next to the small eatery, which opened back up on Sunday.
Federal investigators were heading to the scene on Sunday to reportedly reconstruct the wreck, and the National Transportation Safety Board was investigating the incident.
On Sunday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement saying, “My heart breaks for the 20 people who lost their lives in this horrific accident on Saturday in Schoharie. I commend the first responders who arrived on the scene and worked through the night to help. State police are working with federal and local authorities to investigate the crash, and I have directed state agencies to provide every resource necessary to aid in this investigation and determine what led to this tragedy.”
The New York State Police said in a statement that “the names of the victims are not being released at this time as next of kin are being notified.”
Officials were expected to speak with local media at 3pm on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
