Photo: Hans Pennink/AP/ShutterstockNauman Hussain — whose Prestige Limo company rented out the stretch limo that crashed in upstate New York in October 2018,killing 20 people— was indicted Friday on 20 felony counts of second-degree manslaughter and 20 felony counts of criminally negligent homicide, Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery confirmed to PEOPLE.He is set to be arraigned on Wednesday, Mallery said.Hussain’s attorney Lee Kindlon called the indictment “flawed” in a statement to theDemocrat & Chronicle, and said he would continue fighting for his client.“We have only seen reports in the press, but I can say that this is a flawed indictment fundamentally at odds with itself. Mr. Hussain is not guilty of criminal wrongdoing and we will fight for him every step of the way,” Kindlon said.Kindlon told PEOPLE that he was unable to immediately supply a further statement.RELATED VIDEO: Thousands Gather at Vigil to Mourn Limousine Crash Victims: The Pain Is ‘Unbearable and Unending’The formal indictment comes months after Hussain, the operator of Prestige, wasarrested and charged with criminally negligent homicidefour days after the Oct. 6 crash.According to theDemocrat & Chronicle, Hussain was facing up to four years in prison on the previous charge. Now, he could face consecutive sentences for each count if he is convicted.The company’s rented stretch limo plowed downhill through a T-intersection of two state highways in Schoharie, killing its driver and 17 passengers, as well as two pedestrians near the parking lot of the Apple Barrel Country Store.It was the deadliest transportation-related incident in the United States in nine years.Upon his arrest in October, authorities placed the blame on Hussain, claiming it was the 28-year-old’s “sole responsibility” that the vehicle was on the road.State Police Superintendent George Beach II told reporters at the time that Hussain was aware of multiple problems, including the fact that the limo should’ve been taken off the road in September, and that driver Scott Lisinicchia was not properly licensed and should not have been operating the vehicle.Hussain’s father owns the company, but was in Pakistan at the time of the crash, Kindlon previously told theNew York Times.The attorney also blamed the perilous intersection for the crash, telling theAlbany Times Unionthat Lisinicchia was “unfamiliar” with the roads.“I think the state has been warned about that intersection for years and the Department of Transportation is just looking to point a finger,” he told the outlet.The limo passengers killed were close friends, relatives and couples. They had hired the vehicle to take them to a local brewery to celebrate the 30th birthday of fellow passenger Amy Steenburg.
Photo: Hans Pennink/AP/Shutterstock
Nauman Hussain — whose Prestige Limo company rented out the stretch limo that crashed in upstate New York in October 2018,killing 20 people— was indicted Friday on 20 felony counts of second-degree manslaughter and 20 felony counts of criminally negligent homicide, Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery confirmed to PEOPLE.He is set to be arraigned on Wednesday, Mallery said.Hussain’s attorney Lee Kindlon called the indictment “flawed” in a statement to theDemocrat & Chronicle, and said he would continue fighting for his client.“We have only seen reports in the press, but I can say that this is a flawed indictment fundamentally at odds with itself. Mr. Hussain is not guilty of criminal wrongdoing and we will fight for him every step of the way,” Kindlon said.Kindlon told PEOPLE that he was unable to immediately supply a further statement.RELATED VIDEO: Thousands Gather at Vigil to Mourn Limousine Crash Victims: The Pain Is ‘Unbearable and Unending’The formal indictment comes months after Hussain, the operator of Prestige, wasarrested and charged with criminally negligent homicidefour days after the Oct. 6 crash.According to theDemocrat & Chronicle, Hussain was facing up to four years in prison on the previous charge. Now, he could face consecutive sentences for each count if he is convicted.The company’s rented stretch limo plowed downhill through a T-intersection of two state highways in Schoharie, killing its driver and 17 passengers, as well as two pedestrians near the parking lot of the Apple Barrel Country Store.It was the deadliest transportation-related incident in the United States in nine years.Upon his arrest in October, authorities placed the blame on Hussain, claiming it was the 28-year-old’s “sole responsibility” that the vehicle was on the road.State Police Superintendent George Beach II told reporters at the time that Hussain was aware of multiple problems, including the fact that the limo should’ve been taken off the road in September, and that driver Scott Lisinicchia was not properly licensed and should not have been operating the vehicle.Hussain’s father owns the company, but was in Pakistan at the time of the crash, Kindlon previously told theNew York Times.The attorney also blamed the perilous intersection for the crash, telling theAlbany Times Unionthat Lisinicchia was “unfamiliar” with the roads.“I think the state has been warned about that intersection for years and the Department of Transportation is just looking to point a finger,” he told the outlet.The limo passengers killed were close friends, relatives and couples. They had hired the vehicle to take them to a local brewery to celebrate the 30th birthday of fellow passenger Amy Steenburg.
Nauman Hussain — whose Prestige Limo company rented out the stretch limo that crashed in upstate New York in October 2018,killing 20 people— was indicted Friday on 20 felony counts of second-degree manslaughter and 20 felony counts of criminally negligent homicide, Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery confirmed to PEOPLE.
He is set to be arraigned on Wednesday, Mallery said.
Hussain’s attorney Lee Kindlon called the indictment “flawed” in a statement to theDemocrat & Chronicle, and said he would continue fighting for his client.
“We have only seen reports in the press, but I can say that this is a flawed indictment fundamentally at odds with itself. Mr. Hussain is not guilty of criminal wrongdoing and we will fight for him every step of the way,” Kindlon said.
Kindlon told PEOPLE that he was unable to immediately supply a further statement.
RELATED VIDEO: Thousands Gather at Vigil to Mourn Limousine Crash Victims: The Pain Is ‘Unbearable and Unending’
The formal indictment comes months after Hussain, the operator of Prestige, wasarrested and charged with criminally negligent homicidefour days after the Oct. 6 crash.
According to theDemocrat & Chronicle, Hussain was facing up to four years in prison on the previous charge. Now, he could face consecutive sentences for each count if he is convicted.
The company’s rented stretch limo plowed downhill through a T-intersection of two state highways in Schoharie, killing its driver and 17 passengers, as well as two pedestrians near the parking lot of the Apple Barrel Country Store.
It was the deadliest transportation-related incident in the United States in nine years.
Upon his arrest in October, authorities placed the blame on Hussain, claiming it was the 28-year-old’s “sole responsibility” that the vehicle was on the road.
State Police Superintendent George Beach II told reporters at the time that Hussain was aware of multiple problems, including the fact that the limo should’ve been taken off the road in September, and that driver Scott Lisinicchia was not properly licensed and should not have been operating the vehicle.
Hussain’s father owns the company, but was in Pakistan at the time of the crash, Kindlon previously told theNew York Times.
The attorney also blamed the perilous intersection for the crash, telling theAlbany Times Unionthat Lisinicchia was “unfamiliar” with the roads.
“I think the state has been warned about that intersection for years and the Department of Transportation is just looking to point a finger,” he told the outlet.
The limo passengers killed were close friends, relatives and couples. They had hired the vehicle to take them to a local brewery to celebrate the 30th birthday of fellow passenger Amy Steenburg.
source: people.com
