A former limousine company manager was sentenced on May 31 to at least five years in prison for his role in a crash that killed 20 people in Schoharie, NY. Nauman Hussain, 33, was convicted of manslaughter after prosecutors argued he intentionally failed to properly maintain a 2001 Ford Excursion stretch limo. The limo’s brakes failed on a downhill stretch of road, resulting in the tragedy.
Judge Peter Lynch sentenced Hussain to a prison term of 5 to 15 years. The state’s parole board will determine when he will be released after serving the minimum.
Prosecutors presented evidence at the trial that the limo had been allowed to deteriorate, and that Hussain’s company had taken steps to keep it on the road, despite failed inspections. National Transportation Safety Board investigators previously concluded the company also bypassed inspection rules by filing false seating capacity details.
“It makes me and my family sick to know that a $2,000 dollar brake repair would have avoided this catastrophe,” said Kevin Cushing, whose son Patrick was killed.
The trial came after a judge rejected a plea deal last fall that would have spared Hussain prison time. Hussain’s lawyer, Lee Kindlon, said he plans to file an appeal.
Source: WFMJ
