TRAGEDY: Five Nurses Die in Limousine Fire | San Mateo Bridge, California 2013

TRAGEDY: Five Nurses Die in Limousine Fire | San Mateo Bridge, California 2013

On May 4, 2013, nine nurses celebrating a bachelorette party crossed the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in a white stretch limousine. At around 10:05 PM, thick black smoke began rising from the floor. Within minutes, the rear compartment was engulfed in flames. Four women and the driver escaped. Five women—including bride-to-be Neriza Fojas—remained trapped inside.

This episode features real 911 calls from witnesses and survivors, testimony describing desperate escape attempts through an 18-inch-high partition window, and the complete investigation findings. California Highway Patrol investigators concluded the fire resulted from catastrophic suspension failure, not the airbag rupture initially reported by media.

Listen on Obscura wherever you get podcasts. For extended content and ad-free episodes, join us on Patreon.

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic 911 audio, survivor testimony describing entrapment, and discussions of burn injuries.

THE CASE

On the evening of May 4, 2013, Neriza Fojas—a 31-year-old nurse from Monterey, California—celebrated her recent wedding with eight close friends. All nine women worked together as nurses at healthcare facilities in the Bay Area. They had rented a white stretch limousine from Limo Stop, a San Jose company, to transport them to a wedding celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City.

At around 10:05 PM, the 1999 Lincoln Town Car limousine began crossing the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge westbound toward the peninsula. Driver Orville "Ricky" Brown, 46, piloted the vehicle while the women celebrated in the rear passenger compartment behind a raised privacy partition.

THE FIRE

At around 10:05 PM, one of the passengers knocked on the partition and said "smoke." Brown initially believed she was asking permission to smoke a cigarette and told her to wait a few minutes. Then he felt bumps beneath the vehicle. Thick, black, acrid smoke began rising from the floor of the passenger compartment. Within seconds, the rear of the limousine was engulfed in flames.

Brown pulled onto the right shoulder near the bridge's high rise section. Emergency calls flooded 911 dispatch. "We need help on the San Mateo Bridge," a woman screamed. "Oh my God, oh my God. I cannot open the door."

Four women managed to escape through the narrow partition window separating the driver's compartment from the passenger area—a space measuring approximately 18 inches high by 3 feet wide. Survivors described pulling each other through the opening, with some becoming stuck at the hips. Amalia Loyola was the last to escape, suffering severe burns to her ankles as flames consumed the rear compartment.

Five women remained trapped: Neriza Fojas (31), Michelle Estrera (35), Jennifer Balon (39), Anna Alcantara (46), and Felomina Geronga (43). All five died from smoke inhalation. When firefighters extinguished the blaze, they found the victims near the partition window—their final desperate attempt to reach safety.

THE INVESTIGATION

California Highway Patrol investigators and the Foster City Fire Department conducted an exhaustive examination of the vehicle, maintenance records, and witness testimony. Their conclusion: the fire was accidental.

The catastrophic failure of the limousine's rear suspension system allowed the rapidly spinning driveshaft to make contact with the floor pan. The friction created sparks and intense heat, igniting the vehicle's interior. Contrary to initial media reports, investigators found no evidence of ruptured air suspension bags or the vehicle's undercarriage scraping the roadway.

Additional factors contributed to the tragedy: the limousine was overloaded with nine passengers despite being rated for seven, and the raised privacy partition prevented effective communication about the emergency. Driver Brown was cleared of wrongdoing after cell phone records confirmed he was not on his phone during the incident.

Four survivors and the families of the five deceased women filed wrongful death lawsuits against Ford Motor Company, Limo Stop, and Accubuilt (the company that converted the vehicle). Most cases settled out of court. A jury later found Ford not liable, determining that Limo Stop's chronic overloading and misuse of the vehicle—routinely carrying more passengers than it was designed to hold—caused the suspension system failure.

THIS EPISODE

This Obscura investigation features real 911 calls from the night of the fire, survivor testimony from subsequent legal proceedings, and official investigation findings from California Highway Patrol. The episode examines how a joyful celebration became a preventable tragedy through mechanical failure and regulatory gaps in the limousine industry.

RESOURCES

National Burn Victim Foundation: www.nbvf.org

California Highway Patrol Vehicle Safety: www.chp.ca.gov



Our Sponsors:
* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA
* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com
* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com
* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Avsnitt(211)

115: Janet Garcia - Cruelty

115: Janet Garcia - Cruelty

On Mar 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington, at around 7:00 AM, four-year-old Ariel Garcia was declared missing. The boy is Hispanic with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 3 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 37 pounds. Ariel went missing at an apartment on Vesper Drive.Ariel’s mother, Janet Garcia, struggles with drug and alcohol. To the point that it made her leave for days. And frequently without notice. Her grandmother described her daughter as being both violent and unpredictable.Our Patreon has been overhauled. Click the link to discover our new tiers. We now are producing new extended episodes and offering merch! Patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcastVisit us online at obscuracrimepodcast.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

19 Juni 202432min

114: Salamah Pendleton - Crossfire

114: Salamah Pendleton - Crossfire

May 20th, 2020, two police officers arrive at a Grand Forks, North Dakota apartment complex. It’s around 2:00 PM and a sunny day. The officers are there to serve eviction papers to 41-year-old Salamah Pendleton and his mother Lola Moore. Nothing will go to plan.Visit me online at https://www.blacklabelpodcasting.com/show/obscura/Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

12 Juni 202432min

113: Norberto Pietri - Rampage

113: Norberto Pietri - Rampage

On August 18, 1988, Noberto Piertri walked away from the Lantana Community Correctional Work Release Center. At the time, he was restricted to the center's grounds while he awaited transfer to a more secure facility. Or, in other words, he escaped.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

5 Juni 202425min

112: Denise Collins - The Ladder

112: Denise Collins - The Ladder

Heather Claypool is sleeping. It’s early morning hours. A small creak stirs her. Between squinted eyes she scans the side of her bed. It was probably someone downstairs. She lived in an apartment. Heather drifts back to sleep. Another creak. She sits up. There is a man crouched at the end of your bed.Purchase one of our Obscura Mugs here.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

29 Maj 202426min

111: Richard Henyard - The Empty Man

111: Richard Henyard - The Empty Man

Around 10 p.m. on January 30, 1993, Lynette Tschida went to the Winn Dixie store in Eustis, Florida. It was at the Grove Square Shopping Center in Lake County. She saw a young man and a teenage boy sitting on a bench near the entrance of the store.As she walked in the store, she noticed how intense the older one was. He was tall, muscular. His smooth, but dark skin and handsome features betrayed by a scowl. He watched Lynette enter the store and she felt his eyes on her back as the automatic doors slid shut. Purchase one of our Obscura Mugs here.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

22 Maj 202431min

110: Shawna Forde - The Minutemen

110: Shawna Forde - The Minutemen

Nine year old Brisenia is sleeping in the living room of her home. She’s not sleeping in her bedroom because she’s so excited that she got a new puppy. At that age these experiences are so magical for us.Her mother told her that her bed was freshly made with clean sheets. If Bresenia wanted to sleep with the puppy, then it needed to be in the living room. It was an easy choice. Raul Flores and Gina Marie Gonzalez, his wife, are sleeping in their bed.It’s 1AM in the morning when someone knocks on their door.Purchase one of our Obscura Mugs here.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

15 Maj 202434min

109: Kenneth Edwin Martell - Soulless Eyes

109: Kenneth Edwin Martell - Soulless Eyes

July 25, 2018 Lakemoor, Illinois Officer Brianna Tedesco starts her shift. It’s 11:00 p.m. She’s scheduled until 7:00 a.m. Tedesco is dressed in her duty uniform of shirt, pants, and outer ballistic vest. She has her Lakemoor Police badge and name plate pinned to the outside of her vest and is wearing a duty belt which includes her standard duty gear.Her body camera is equipped and, along with a squad camera microphone, she has a microphone clipped to her left shoulder. Listener, the body cam and microphones will give us insight into the worst day of Officer Tedesco’s career. And present to us the night that she peered the eyes later described as soulless.Purchase one of our Obscura Mugs here. Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

8 Maj 202429min

108: Leonard Patrick Gonzalez - The Crew

108: Leonard Patrick Gonzalez - The Crew

July 2009Escambia County, FloridaLeonard “Patrick” Gonzales Jr., age 35, is broke. He’s desperate for cash. So desperate that his mom is paying his bills. Patrick, of course, finds this embarrassing. Against his wife Tabitha’s better judgment, he invested their savings into a Karate School. Savings that the two saved up together working at Long-Wiggins’ antique business.But the Karate business, like 40 percent of businesses in the United States, went belly up. And that little venture has placed Patrick (and by extension Tabitha) in financial jeopardy. Patrick felt like he was letting his family down. Both his wife and his children. But he had an idea. His ticket out of this whole mess was 66-year-old Byrd "Bud" Starling Billings Escambia County, FloridaLeonard “Patrick” Gonzales Jr., age 35, is broke. He’s desperate for cash. So desperate that his mom is paying his bills. Patrick, of course, finds this embarrassing. Against his wife Tabitha’s better judgment, he invested their savings into a Karate School. Savings that the two saved up together working at Long-Wiggins’ antique business.But the Karate business, like 40 percent of businesses in the United States, went belly up. And that little venture has placed Patrick (and by extension Tabitha) in financial jeopardy. Patrick felt like he was letting his family down. Both his wife and his children. But he had an idea. His ticket out of this whole mess was 66-year-old Byrd "Bud" Starling BillingsDon't forget to give Magic Mind a try: They have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code Obscura20 at checkoutYou can claim it at:Magic Mind | Mental Performance ShotOur Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

1 Maj 202451min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
p3-krim
fordomspodden
motiv
rss-krimstad
rss-viva-fotboll
flashback-forever
aftonbladet-daily
svenska-fall
rss-vad-fan-hande
rss-krimreportrarna
rss-sanning-konsekvens
dagens-eko
olyckan-inifran
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-svalan-krim
krimmagasinet
blenda-2
rss-klubbland-en-podd-mest-om-frolunda
rss-flodet