Senator Corbett Responds to CHP Limo Fire Report

Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) said on Monday, Aug. 19, that her proposed legislation to make limousines safer is more urgent after California Highway Patrol reports that a mechanical failure caused the tragic May 4 fire that killed five women on the San Mateo Bridge.

Read more about the mechanical failure.

“The report is also, in many ways, a call to action to ensure that such tragedies never happen again,” says Corbett.

CHP reported that the limousine passengers, through inaccessible doors and windows, encountered several escape issues.

Corbett introduced SB 109, which will enhance limousine safety, a few weeks after the fire. She believes that this legislation will provide passengers in limousines a better chance of escaping these vehicles in the event of an emergency.

“By requiring that limousines be equipped with rear side doors at both ends of the passenger compartment and two emergency rear push-out windows—as well as assuring that limo passengers be briefed on the safety features of these vehicles prior to their trip—future tragedies such as the one that occurred on that fateful night on the bridge can be prevented,” says Corbett.