Bride among five killed in San Francisco limousine fire

Five women who died after their limousine caught fire on the San Mateo Bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area Saturday night were part of a bachelorette party.

Among those who perished was the bride, Neriza Fojas of Fresno, who was due to be married next month, the Daily Mail reported.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Fojas was a registered nurse at Fresno Community Regional Medical Center, and had been married recently in the United States, but was planning to travel to her native Philippines next month to hold another ceremony before her family June 19, Bersamin said.

"She was a hard worker, a loving sister," a sobbing Rosyln Bersamin said.

Five others managed to escape from the flames with burns and smoke inhalation injuries. The injured were named by police as Mary Guardiano, 42, of Alameda, Nelia Arrellano, 36, of Oakland, Amalia Loyola, 48, of San Leandro, and Jasmine Desguia, 34, of San Jose.

The limousine driver, Orville Brown, 46, of San Jose, California, escaped uninjured.

The names of those killed would not be made public until all relatives had been informed, police said.

The women, all in their 30s, were traveling over a bridge in the vehicle when it caught on fire around 10:00 PM, according to the Mercury News.

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Four of the women and the driver managed to escape, but they were unable to rescue the five others. Four of the five escapees were taken to local hospitals for treatment, wrote the Associated Press.

A California Highway Patrol spokesman told the Mercury News that the women had been traveling from Alameda to Foster City, and that little is known at the moment as to what sparked off the flames. 

According to CNN, the westbound side of the San Mateo bridge is expected to remain closed Sunday morning as investigators examine the scene.