Bride, 4 Others Killed When Limo Bursts Into Flames

Women died trapped in limo on San Mateo bridge
By Ruth Brown,  Newser Staff
Suggested by GeorgeL
Posted May 5, 2013 4:10 PM CDT
Updated May 6, 2013 12:46 AM CDT
Bride, 4 Others Killed in Limo Fire
   (Youtube)

A newlywed bride and four of her friends were killed in California on Saturday when the limo they were riding to a bridal shower burst into flames on the San Mateo Bridge, trapping them inside. Four other women and the driver escaped the burning car and survived, but two are still in critical condition in hospital, the San Jose Mercury News reports. It is still not clear what caused the 1999 Lincoln Town Car to catch fire, but the rental company says it is cooperating with authorities.

For unknown reasons, the five women had been unable to escape through the rear doors, and they died as they tried to squeeze through a small window into the driver's compartment, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "This is one of the most horrific things I've seen in 21 years with this office," San Mateo County's medical examiner says. "Looking at it, they were on top of each other and doing what they could to get out." All the victims were nurses. The bride, 31-year-old Neriza Tojas, had been planning to repeat her wedding vows in her native Philippines next month, family members say. (More bachelorette party stories.)

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