Vigil set for Monday evening in Amsterdam for Schoharie limo crash victims

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Relatives of victims of yesterday's crash in Schoharie County lay flowers at a memorial

AMSTERDAM — Friends, family and the community in which many of the victims of Saturday’s tragedy in Schoharie lived planned to gather Monday evening for a candlelight vigil.

The vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook bridge in Amsterdam, according to the Facebook event page.

“Come join us (Monday evening) in honoring the lives of our friends and family who passed away in the Schoharie County accident,” the page states.

Candles are to be handed out beginning at 6:30 p.m., with commencement of the ceremony at 7 p.m. Rev. Kent McHeard will take part, as will guest speakers and community leaders.

In all, 20 people were killed in the Saturday afternoon crash, when a limousine went through a stop sign at routes 30 and 30A, went into a parking lot and then a small ravine, state police said. All 18 people in the limousine died, as did two pedestrians.

“This is such a horrible tragedy,” one woman wrote on the vigil event page. “It is wonderful that our community can gather together in honor of these beautiful people.”

Also today, grief counseling is being offered again at the Greater Amsterdam School District’s Lynch Literacy Academy from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One of the victims was employed by the district, the district said. Families of victims can go to the school for support arranged for by the Red Cross and state police.

Grief counselors and school district crisis teams are also preparing for students and staff to return to school Tuesday, after the Monday holiday.

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