Late Saturday night, five women on the way to a bachelorette party died after a fire broke out in their limousine. The bride, who was just recently married, was among those killed. The driver and four other women managed to escape.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the limo was headed west on the San Mateo Bridge near San Francisco when smoke filled the passenger area at around 10 p.m. The driver, 46-year-old Orville Brown, stopped the car and helped the women sitting nearest to the front reach safety as the limo burst into flames. The fire then spread so quickly that the remaining passengers were unable to escape. All five were pronounced dead at the scene.
"We don't know what caused the accident yet," said CHP Officer James Evans. "It wasn't a traffic collision, we do know that, but we are still investigating."
The four women who survived were hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation, and at least two were in critical condition. The driver was unhurt.
The bride, 31-year-old Neriza Fojas, was a nurse at nearby hospital. According to her sister, she'd been married recently in the United States and had plans to travel to her native Philippines next month to hold a second wedding ceremony for her family there.
"She was a hard worker, a loving sister," a sobbing Bersamin told the San Francisco Chronicle.
[ABC News/San Francisco Chronicle/CBS Bay Area]
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