lawsuit...his only child, and un-married daughter rear-ended by tractor-trailer
hauling brand new GM cars..
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INFERNO ON THE 190
MULTIPLE CRASH KILLS SIX NEAR DOWNTOWN
BY MICHAEL BEEBE AND JANICE L. HABUDA - NEWS STAFF REPORTERS
Published on March 12, 1998
© The Buffalo News Inc.
Six people died in a fiery rush-hour crash Wednesday on the elevated Niagara Thruway opposite City Hall, an accident Buffalo's fire commissioner said was the worst he's seen in more than 30 years on the job.
A southbound tractor-trailer loaded with new Chrysler Concordes set off the chain-reaction collision shortly before 4 p.m., witnesses said, when the rig was unable to avoid a line of vehicles slowed for an earlier minor accident. Drivers trapped in traffic watched in horror as the big semi plowed into the rear of a line of cars and a 10-passenger Carrier Coach van burst into flames.
The van's driver and all four passengers, headed home to the Southtowns from various sites in Buffalo, died in the flames.
Fueled by exploding gasoline tanks, the fire spread to four other vehicles, shooting up a wall of flame and smoke clearly visible from waterfront condominiums and City Hall offices.
Troopers identified the Carrier Coach occupants as:
Richard Spencer, 71, of Transitline Road, Springville. He was driving the van.
Maurice Black, 61, and Ronald Colern, 61, who lived in a home for developmentally disabled adults on Browning Drive in the Village of Hamburg.
Carol Philips, 60, of Holiday Lane, Town of Hamburg.
Patricia Rodgers, 52, of Knoll Road, Eden.
The sixth victim, whose car burst into flames on impact, was identified as Pamela Friddell, 29, of Southwestern Boulevard, Town of Hamburg.
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AFTER THE CRASH
$815 MILLION IS SOUGHT IN LAWSUITS
Published on March 11, 1999
Author: MATT GRYTA and MICHAEL BEEBE
News Staff Reporters
© The Buffalo News Inc.
A year ago today, six people were burned alive in full view of City Hall and waterfront condominiums as a tractor-trailer loaded with new cars set off a fiery chain reaction on the downtown section of the Niagara Thruway.
Today, lawsuits adding up to $815 million were filed in State Supreme Court against the Canadian car hauler, the rig's driver....
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