Albany, N.Y. - On Wednesday the NTSB released their anticipated safety findings , connected to the tragic fatal crash of a stretched limo in Schoharie that claimed the lives of 20 people.
The NTSB report details gruesome details of the crash, stating that their recommendations are to require lap/shoulder belts for each passenger in a seated position on all new vehicles modified to be used as limousines.
The report says some of the 18 men and women inside the Ford Excursion might have lived--had they been wearing seat belts, which were described as "inaccessible."
The report says the crash was "not survivable" for limo driver Scott Lisinicchia, but the passenger section "remained relatively intact," with space for the passengers to survive.
The board says New York state should extend its seat belt law to require all passengers in a vehicle to wear seat belts.....and an urgent safety report that says seat belts should be mandatory in limousines.
Seat belts are currently not required in limos under federal law, and state lawmakers failed to pass limo safety legislation in this year's legislative session.
(Picture Courtesy of NTSB)