All 20 victims killed in the deadly Oct. 6 crash in upstate New York have been identified, according to media reports and social media.
Close friends and family members, as well as community groups, have been sharing touching accounts of the crash victims, which included sisters, newlyweds and young parents.
At least eight GoFundMe fundraisers and one Facebook fundraiser were launched to help the families of the deceased with funeral expenses. One of the fundraisers was launched to help a victim couple’s orphaned children.
Steenburg Family
The group in the limousine was headed to celebrate the 30th birthday of Amy Steenburg who was also one of the limo occupants, her aunt Barbara Douglas told NBC News. Her husband Axel, 29, also died.Amy and Axel married on June 30, 2018, according to Amy’s Facebook page. Amy, a nurse, wrote in a post on Oct. 3, just three days before her death: “I just wanted to say Axel Steenburg I love you more than words can say! … Thank you for being so kind and loving.”
Abigail and Adam Jackson
Amy had three sisters, Abigail Jackson, Mary Dyson, and Allison King, all of whom died.“My friends were the kindest, most genuine, women you could meet ... truly had hearts of gold,” a close family friend of the sisters told the Times Union.
Abigail Jackson and her husband, Adam, both 34, perished in the crash. They leave behind their daughters, four-year-old Archer and 16-month-old Elle.
Mary and Robert Dyson
Mary Dyson, 33, and her husband Robert, 34, leave behind a young son. They both graduated from Clarkson University in Potsdam in 2007, according to a Facebook post. The school organised a candlelight vigil on the night of Oct. 8.Allison King
Rachael Cavosie
Rachael Cavosie, 30, known as “Rach” by her cousins, is survived by her parents and three siblings. Rachael’s cousin posted to Facebook saying she is “in shock.”“She’s a soul that touched so many lives including mine,” Alyssa wrote. “I looked up to her and often sought her advice through out my life.”
Erin and Shane McGowan
Erin McGowan, 34, and Shane McGowan, 30, were recently married in June.“You’re always hoping you find the love of your life, it’s what you hope and wish and dream for, and they found each other,” Anthony Vertucci, Erin’s uncle, told the Times Union.
“They were just so beautiful and vibrant and kind. They made such a dynamic duo. They were finally able to get married and just honestly starting to live their life. They had big plans. They were saving for a house and hoping to do everything that everybody hopes to do.”
Patrick Cushing and Amanda Halse
Erin’s cousin, Patrick Cushing, 31, was a professional dodgeball player. He was 31 when he died. U.S. Dodgeball posted a tribute to Facebook on Oct. 6:“Cushing’s unconditional kindness and ability to make friends of his fiercest competitors made him the consummate sportsman all dodgeballers strive to be,” the post read.
The pair had been together for at least a year according to a mutual friend of the couple, the Times Union reported.
“She was just as random as he was, they were perfect for each other,” Radley said.
Amanda’s boss for three years, Suzanne Balet-Haight, said Halse planned a fundraiser every year for her mother after her mother was paralyzed in an accident.
Matthew Coons and Savannah Bursese
Matthew Coons, 27, was a U.S. Army veteran and a fitness trainer. Friend Kurt Smith said Matthew saved his life two years ago at a different car accident, the Times Union reported. Smith posted to Facebook on Oct. 7 saying Matthew was best friend.One of Matthew’s cousins posted to Facebook on Oct. 7: “RIP to my cousin Matthew Coons, his girlfriend Savannah, and everyone else hat tragically lose their lives. Bless you all and may God give you nothing but pure happiness in your new beautiful home,” the post read.
Savannah Devonne Bursese, 24, whose boyfriend is Matthew Coons, graduated in 2015 from Hartwick college with a major in political science and business administration, according to a Facebook post. She played volleyball, and was a member of the Phi Sigma Phi sorority.
Brian Hough and James Schnurr
Brian Hough, 46, was an assistant professor of geology at the State University of New York at Oswego. He and his father-in-law, James Schnurr, 71, were two pedestrians who perished in the crash, Facebook posts and media reports indicate, The AP reported.Hough’s mother, Artra Hough, said he is survived by his wife and their 8-year-old son. She described Brian as a “great father, great son.”
“He loved teaching, he loved working with students,” she said, AP reported.
Michael Ukaj
Michael Ukaj, a former Marine from Johnstown who served a tour in Iraq, died on his 34th birthday, his mother told the Times Union. She tried to call him to wish him happy birthday, but couldn’t reach him.Mary Aston said her son joined the Marines at 17, but later was honorably discharged because of a medical condition.
“He was just such a good boy,” Ashton told the Times Union. “My baby is gone.”
Scott T. Lisinicchia
Scott Lisinicchia, 53, was the driver of the limousine crash. His family said he wasn’t aware that he had been provided limousine that was unsafe for the road.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Lisinicchia did not have the needed license to drive the limo, and that the limo had failed an inspection by the New York State DMV last month and was not supposed to be on the road.
