All 20 victims killed in the deadly Oct. 6 crash in upstate New York have been identified, according to media reports and social media.
Close friends and family members, as well as community groups, have been sharing touching accounts of the crash victims, which included sisters, newlyweds and young parents.
In some cases, GoFundMe accounts were launched to help the families of the deceased with funeral expenses. One of the fundraisers was launched to help a victim couple’s orphaned children.
On Oct. 6, a limo sped down a hill in Schoharie, New York and hit another vehicle when it failed to stop at an intersection around 2 p.m. The vehicle was carrying 18 people including the driver, all of whom died. Two pedestrians, both identified, also died.
Steenburg Family
The group in the limousine was headed to celebrate the 30th birthday of Amy Steenburg who was also one of the limo occupants, her aunt Barbara Douglas told NBC News. Her husband Axel, 29, also died.
Amy and Axel married on June 30, 2018, according to Amy’s Facebook page. Amy, a nurse, wrote in a post on Oct. 3, just three days before her death: “I just wanted to say Axel Steenburg I love you more than words can say! … Thank you for being so kind and loving.”
Richard Steenburg, 34, Axel’s brother, also passed away in the crash. Rich’s sister in law created a GoFundMe account to help cover funeral expenses for the brothers.
Abigail and Adam Jackson
Amy had three sisters, Abigail Jackson, Mary Dyson, and Allison King, all of whom died.
“They were beautiful girls, full of life. They had their whole lives ahead of them,” Douglas told the New York Post of her nieces, who ranged in age 30-35.
“My friends were the kindest, most genuine, women you could meet … truly had hearts of gold,” a close family friend of the sisters told the Times Union.
Abigail Jackson and her husband, Adam, both 34, perished in the crash. They leave behind their daughters, four-year-old Archer and 16-month-old Elle.
“Adam and Abby were amazing parents to these girls and taken much too soon,” Sarah Maltzman, a family friend who set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for the couple’s children, wrote on the page.
Mary and Robert Dyson
Mary Dyson, 33, and her husband Robert, 34, leave behind a young son. They both graduated from Clarkson University in Potsdam in 2007, according to a Facebook post. The school organised a candlelight vigil on the night of Oct. 8.
Allison King
Allison King, 31, graduated with a degree in speech communications in 2010 from SUNY Plattsburgh. A Facebook fundraiser for her parents, Tom and Linda King, had raised more than $132,000 as of Oct. 7 evening, The Associated Press reported.
Amanda Rivenburg
Amanda Rivenburg, 29, graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2011 with a degree in social work. For the past 7 years, she worked at Living Resources, an Albany-based organization that helps people with disabilities.
A close friend, Erika Kwarta, created a GoFundMe account to help Amanda’s parents, Tom and Donna, with funeral expenses.
“She was dedicated and wonderful and kind,” said Amanda’s supervisor, Frank Prevratil, the Times Union reported. He added that she was an only child.
“She was the sweetest. She lights up a room. She had a vibrant smile. You felt a certain friendliness from her,” a colleague, Deneen Palmateer said, the Times Union reported.
Rachael Cavosie
Rachael Cavosie, 30, known as “Rach” by her cousins, is survived by her parents and three siblings. Rachael’s cousin posted to Facebook saying she is “in shock.”
“She’s a soul that touched so many lives including mine,” Alyssa wrote. “I looked up to her and often sought her advice through out my life.”
Another cousin, Anthony Huff, has created a GoFundMe account to help cover Rachael’s funeral costs.
Erin and Shane McGowan
Erin McGowan, 34, and Shane McGowan, 30, were recently married in June.
“You’re always hoping you find the love of your life, it’s what you hope and wish and dream for, and they found each other,” Anthony Vertucci, Erin’s uncle, told the Times Union.
“They were just so beautiful and vibrant and kind. They made such a dynamic duo. They were finally able to get married and just honestly starting to live their life. They had big plans. They were saving for a house and hoping to do everything that everybody hopes to do.”
Patrick Cushing and Amanda Halse
Erin’s cousin, Patrick Cushing, 31, was a professional dodgeball player. He was 31 when he died. U.S. Dodgeball posted a tribute to Facebook on Oct. 6:
“Cushing’s unconditional kindness and ability to make friends of his fiercest competitors made him the consummate sportsman all dodgeballers strive to be,” the post read.
Amanda Halse, whose boyfriend is Cushing, was 26 when she died in the crash. Her sister Karina Halse told The Associated Press that Amanda and Patrick were “two peas in a pod.”
The pair had been together for at least a year according to a mutual friend of the couple, the Times Union reported.
“She was just as random as he was, they were perfect for each other,” Radley said.
Amanda’s boss for three years, Suzanne Balet-Haight, said Halse planned a fundraiser every year for her mother after her mother was paralyzed in an accident.
“It was really inspirational to see how much she cared for her mom and making sure she was okay all the time,” Balet-Haight said, the Times Union reported.
Matthew Coons and Savannah Bursese
Matthew Coons, 27, was a U.S. Army veteran and a fitness trainer. Friend Kurt Smith said Matthew saved his life two years ago at a different car accident, the Times Union reported. Smith posted to Facebook on Oct. 7 saying Matthew was best friend.
One of Matthew’s cousins posted to Facebook on Oct. 7: “RIP to my cousin Matthew Coons, his girlfriend Savannah, and everyone else hat tragically lose their lives. Bless you all and may God give you nothing but pure happiness in your new beautiful home,” the post read.
Matthew’s aunt has launched a GoFundMe account to help cover funeral expenses.
Just spoke with a close friend of Matthew Coons. Says he was a person who always thought of others and found his sweetheart in Savannah Devonne. They both died in the Schoharie Limo Crash. The family is asking for prayers. pic.twitter.com/H5wQ1kgwL8
— Barry Wygel (@BarryWygel) October 9, 2018
Savannah Devonne Bursese, 24, whose boyfriend is Matthew Coons, graduated in 2015 from Hartwick college with a major in political science and business administration, according to a Facebook post. She played volleyball, and was a member of the Phi Sigma Phi sorority.
Her sorority sisters set up a GoFundMe account to help Savannah’s family to help with funeral expenses.
“Savannah was a loving daughter, friend, girlfriend, and sister. There are no words that can heal the friends and family of Savannah’s pain as a single moment has now changed their lives forever,” they wrote on the page.
Brian Hough and James Schnurr
Brian Hough, 46, was an assistant professor of geology at the State University of New York at Oswego. He and his father-in-law, James Schnurr, 71, were two pedestrians who perished in the crash, Facebook posts and media reports indicate, The AP reported.
Hough’s mother, Artra Hough, said he is survived by his wife and their 8-year-old son. She described Brian as a “great father, great son.”
“He loved teaching, he loved working with students,” she said, AP reported.
Brian’s brother, James Hough, launched a GoFundMe to help surviving family members of both Hough and Schnurr.
Michael Ukaj
Michael Ukaj, a former Marine from Johnstown who served a tour in Iraq, died on his 34th birthday, his mother told the Times Union. She tried to call him to wish him happy birthday, but couldn’t reach him.
Mary Aston said her son joined the Marines at 17, but later was honorably discharged because of a medical condition.
“He was just such a good boy,” Ashton told the Times Union. “My baby is gone.”
Ukaj leaves behind his parents, a sister and two brothers, the Times Union reported.
Scott T. Lisinicchia
Scott Lisinicchia, 53, was the driver of the limousine crash. His family said he wasn’t aware that he had been provided limousine that was unsafe for the road.
“Scott was a loving and caring man who never would have knowingly put others in harm’s way,” the family said in a statement through a lawyer on Oct. 9.
The family of limo driver, Scott Lisinicchia, issues a statement through a lawyer defending his role in the New York limo crash that left 20 people dead. pic.twitter.com/XClhcQzE3Y
— Tasneem N (@TasneemN) October 9, 2018
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Lisinicchia did not have the needed license to drive the limo.
“The driver needed what’s called a CDL, a commercial driver license with a passenger endorsement,” Cuomo said on Oct. 8, Buzzfeed News reported. “The driver did not have that proper license.”
Cuomo said the limo had failed an inspection by the New York State DMV last month and was not supposed to be on the road.
His wife, Kim, said he was “very compassionate … very loyal,” Lahoud reported.
A close family friend created a GoFundMe account to cover funeral expenses.
