5 women die in limo fire on California bridge

SAN FRANCISCO -- A limousine taking nine women to a bachelorette party erupted in flames, killing five of them, including the bride-to-be, authorities said Sunday.

The limo caught fire at about 10 p.m. Saturday on one of the busiest bridges on San Francisco Bay, California Highway Patrol officer Art Montiel said.

Five were trapped, but the four others managed to get out after it came to a stop on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.

Investigators haven't determined what sparked the fire, and the patrol said the stretch limo became engulfed in flames after smoke started coming out of the rear of the vehicle.

The limo driver, Orville Brown, 46, of San Jose was the only person to escape unhurt.

A photo taken by a witness and broadcast on KTVU-TV showed flames shooting from the back of the 1999 Lincoln Town Car.

Aerial video shot after the incident showed about one-third of the back half of the limousine had been scorched by the fire. Its taillights and bumper were gone and it appeared to be resting on its rims, but the remainder of the vehicle didn't appear to be damaged.

It wasn't clear how he managed to escape without injury. Investigators Sunday afternoon were still seeking witnesses, the CHP said.

"Four people got out, as far as what was going on inside, I don't know," CHP officer Jeremy Lofstrom said Sunday. CHP investigators Sunday afternoon were still seeking witnesses to the incident.

All five women were pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsies were being conducted, San Mateo County Supervising Deputy Coroner Michelle Rippy said.

The company that operated the limo was identified as Limo Stop, which offers service with limousines, vans and SUVS.

A telephone message left at the company seeking comment wasn't immediately returned. Attempts to reach the driver were unsuccessful.

Guardians said her daughter -- 42-year-old Mary Grace Guardiano of Alameda -- was being treated for smoke inhalation.

The three other women who escaped the fire, Jasmine Desguia, 34, of San Jose; Nelia Arrellano, 36, of Oakland; and Amalia Loyola, 48, of San Leandro, were taken to hospitals to be treated for smoke inhalation and burns, the patrol said.

Desguia and Loyola were listed in critical condition, Joy Alexiou, a spokeswoman for Valley Medical Center, said. The condition of Arrellano, who was taken to another hospital, was not known.