California: Limo fire kills 5, closes San Mateo bridge

Five women died Saturday night when they were trapped inside a limo that had caught fire as they were traveling on the westbound San Mateo-Hayward bridge in Foster City. The westbound lanes of the San Mateo-Hayward bridge were closed for several hours.
The California Highway Patrol said the fire was first reported around 10 p.m. in the third lane of westbound state Highway 92 at the bridge's decline. As many as ten people were inside the limo and as many as five of them died, according to multiple reports
Witnesses at the scene reported people were trapped inside the burning limo.

CHP officer Art Montiel said officials did not know where the women were going at the time of the fire. He said the San Mateo County coroner will release the names of the women who died after their families have been notified.

Ten people were inside the vehicle at the time, including nine women and the driver, Montiel said.
Four women and the driver, whose gender was not known, escaped. Five of the women, however, were unable to escape from the vehicle and were confirmed dead when officers arrived on-scene.

Two of the four women who escaped were taken to Stanford Hospital and two others were taken to Valley Medical Center in San Jose. All four are being treated for smoke inhalation and burns. The driver was not injured.

It appears the fire started in the back of the limosine, but specifically where or how is still under investigation.