A bachelorette party turned into a major tragedy when four women riding in a super stretch limousine were killed and two others injured seriously by a drunken hit-and-run driver on Long Island, authorities said.
The limousine carrying eight young women had just left a vineyard when it was t-boned by a red pick-up truck in Cutchogue, Long Island yesterday evening.
"The pick-up truck was halfway through the limo," said witness Lynne Lulfs. "We saw bodies hanging out of the left side of the car. They looked like young girls. It was just arms, and heads and hair."
Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley identified the truck driver as Steve Romeo, who ran from the scene and was arrested nearby. He was charged with driving while intoxicated.
Three of the victims died on the scene. The fourth was pronounced dead at Peconic Bay Medical Center, Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said.
Two other passengers were hospitalised with serious injuries.
The victims' names were not released, but officials said they lived in the New York City area.
"This is one of the worst accidents I've ever seen," Flatley was quoted as saying by New York Daily News.
Flatley said the limo was trying to make a U-turn when it was struck by the truck.
"The pick-up driver hit the brakes right before and he broadsided the limo right on the passenger side," Flatley said.
The accident happened along a stretch of Long Island's North Fork, a popular summer destination dotted with wineries. The party of women had just left Vineyard 48, a nearby winery, authorities said.
A resident who lives close to the crash site said the roads leading to the wineries are known to be treacherous.
"These roads were made for potato trucks, not super stretch limos and party buses," said Nicole Brewer.
The pick-up driver's wife, pacing along the police tape, told witnesses she stumbled upon the accident not realising it was her husband.
He had broken ribs and a bloodied nose, the witness said.
