When innocent people are killed because of a failure to abide by safety laws and measures, there is a major issue.

On Oct. 6, there was a deadly limousine crash in Schoharie, New York, that left the driver, all 17 passengers and two pedestrians dead at the scene. The worst part… all of this could have been avoided. As police began to investigate, it was discovered that the limousine on Sept. 4 had failed a safety inspection with six violations. One of the violations included ABS malfunction indicators for the hydraulic brake system, the brake system that failed and set the limo careening into traffic and caused the loss of life for 20 people.

The limo was carrying a group of adults who had tried to make the responsible decision and hire a limo to drive them for a wine tour. This was a driver who was just clocking in for another day. The two pedestrians were going to the Apple Barrel Café to enjoy a meal with their friends and family. All these people had their lives ripped away from them, and now, their families are left with holes in their hearts over the loss of their loved ones.

The Albany-based Prestige Limo operates with a mere three vehicles and two drivers. Over the last two years, the vehicles were ordered off the road four times by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Last month, two of their vehicles failed inspection. They have an off-the-road rate of 80 percent, which is four times the national average. There is no reason why this company was allowed to continue running. Its negligence led to the worst motor vehicle accident in more than 10 years.

A tragedy like this is always horrible, but this is only magnified when it could have all been so easily prevented.

There is nothing that can be done to end the hurt the families, community and country as a whole are feeling over this tragedy. It cannot be erased and it will not be forgotten, but it can be used to make the world a little safer. The community has come together to raise over $250,000 for the children who lost both of their parents in the crash to help provide for their schooling costs. No one should die from a transportation company’s failure to abide by inspection laws. No corners should be cut. It could cost someone else’s life.