Five Women Killed in Sudden Limo Fire

One was newlywed bride

Investigators had not determined Monday why a stretch limousine burst into flames, killing five of nine passengers, including a newlywed bride, on a girls' night out, but they did note that the vehicle was carrying one more passenger than allowed under state regulations.

The five who died were found huddled near a partition between their compartment and the driver's. Unable to squeeze through, they "succumbed to the smoke and flames," Mike Maskarich of the California Highway Patrol said at a news conference Monday.

"My guess would be they were trying to get away from the fire and use that window opening as an escape route," San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault said earlier.