Skip to comments.
From bad to hearse: Suit over funeral-car explosion
The New York Post ^
| October 25, 2009
| KATHIANNE BONIELLO
Posted on 10/25/2009 6:18:58 AM PDT by Stoat
She went out with a bang, and it's left her Bronx family fuming.
Glatha Byrd's final send-off was "apocalyptic" -- as the hearse carrying her body exploded and caught fire on the Major Deegan Expressway, says family lawyer James Franzetti.
The family has filed suit in Bronx Supreme Court over the May 13, 2008, incident, accusing the Griffin Peters Funeral Home of causing some of Byrd's relatives "severe and serious" injuries.
Valerie Davis, wife of the Harlem funeral home's owner, Keith Davis, called the suit "ridiculous."
She said she had heard the relatives, who are also related to her husband, joking about the engine fireworks.
And, she added, no one indicated they were hurt as they removed the "unsinged" casket from the hearse, placed it in the back of an SUV and kept going -- leaving behind a shaken Keith Davis, who had been driving the hearse.
Little did they know the Ferncliff Cemetery burial in Hartsdale couldn't go on without him -- giving the funeral party an hour to kill beside Byrd's open grave.
Franzetti, claims the casket was smoke damaged and the flowers were burned.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
TOPICS: Humor; Local News; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: bronx; funeral; hearse; newyork
Yes, I know that a thread discussing "apocalyptic fireworks" of a hearse's motor while on the way to a funeral is just not the same without pictures, but the New York Post didn't provide any. Anyone wishing to submit a reasonable pictorial approximation of the event is welcome to and I have no doubt that it would be appreciated as a valuable public service.
1
posted on
10/25/2009 6:18:58 AM PDT
by
Stoat
To: Slings and Arrows
2
posted on
10/25/2009 6:19:35 AM PDT
by
Stoat
(Sarah Palin 2012: A Strong America Through Unapologetic Conservatism)
To: Stoat
It’s morbid, but wow. Not a good indicator of this person’s afterlife =P
3
posted on
10/25/2009 6:23:21 AM PDT
by
TheZMan
(Just secede and get it over with. No love lost on either side. Cya.)
To: TheZMan
4
posted on
10/25/2009 6:38:35 AM PDT
by
Loud Mime
(The time to water the tree of liberty approaches......)
To: Stoat
"Yes, I know that a thread discussing "apocalyptic fireworks" of a hearse's motor while on the way to a funeral is just not the same without pictures"
Will this do?
5
posted on
10/25/2009 7:48:36 AM PDT
by
Peter Horry
(Those who aren't responsible always know best.)
To: Stoat; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
Viking Funeral ping!
6
posted on
10/25/2009 9:45:45 AM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
("When France chides you for appeasement, you know you're scraping bottom." --Charles Krauthammer)
To: TheZMan
But the family now has a great story to tell and retell at family reunions.
7
posted on
10/25/2009 10:07:54 AM PDT
by
Huntress
(Who the hell are you to tell me what's in my best interests?)
To: Slings and Arrows
Not going to touch this one...No matter how tempting...
8
posted on
10/25/2009 10:13:16 AM PDT
by
darkwing104
(Lets get dangerous)
To: darkwing104
9
posted on
10/25/2009 10:18:48 AM PDT
by
JRios1968
(The real first rule of Fight Club: don't invite Chuck Norris...EVER)
To: Slings and Arrows; Stoat
The hearse driver quit and got a job as a cab driver.
A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.
For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still shaking driver said, "I'm sorry but you scared the daylights out of me."
The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much.
The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. Today is my first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for the last 25 years."
10
posted on
10/25/2009 10:23:48 AM PDT
by
Lady Jag
(Double your income. Fire the government)
To: Stoat
Stuff happens.
11
posted on
10/25/2009 12:03:37 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
(What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
To: Stoat
12
posted on
10/25/2009 12:16:41 PM PDT
by
shotdog
(I love my country; it's my government I'm afraid of.)
To: Stoat
The family should be grateful. Just think of they money they saved on cremation.
13
posted on
10/25/2009 12:20:12 PM PDT
by
RightOnTheLeftCoast
(Obama: running for re-election in '12 or running for Mahdi now? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahdi])
To: Stoat
14
posted on
10/25/2009 1:07:37 PM PDT
by
Liberty Valance
(Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
To: Lady Jag
That one is a belly laugh,,,,best one today, still laughing.....thanks
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson