Pinay bride, 4 others killed in California limo fire

A report from CNN.com identified the bride as Neriza Fojas, 31, who had hired a white Lincoln limousine for a bachelorette party with eight of her friends.

 

A separate report from the Associated Press said the limo was carrying nine women and caught fire around 10 p.m. Saturday (California time).

 

Lovela Nicolas, the sister-in-law of Fojas' sister, said the bride was a registered nurse scheduled to be married in June.

 

"Neriza was getting married, going to Philippines to get married there and have ceremony there and the reception," Nicolas was quoted as saying in the CNN report.

 

The limousine carrying the victims was headed across San Francisco Bay and caught fire somewhere on the seven-mile San Mateo-Hayward bridge, according to the report.

 

It added that driver and four members of the bachelorette party got out of the vehicle.

 

California Highway Patrol spokesman Ron Simmons said the driver was uninjured, but the four surviving women were treated for smoke inhalation.

 

"Looking at the photos, it appears it started in the trunk," Simmons was quoted as saying. "But at this time, we don't know officially if the fire started inside the vehicle or on the exterior."

 

Meanwhile, in a report from LATimes.com, the company of the limousine said it was "deeply saddened" by the incident.

 

"LimoStop Inc. will do everything possible to investigate and assist authorities in determining the cause of this fire in order to help bring forth answers and provide closure to the victims and their families," the company said in a statement.