Schoharie limo crash trial begins. What to know about the case, wreck that killed 20

The operator of a Saratoga County limousine company has gone on trial for his role in a 2018 crash that killed 20 people, after years of high-profile legal battles over the historic wreck on a rural road in upstate New York.

Nauman Hussain, 33, faces 20 counts each of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in connection with the Oct. 6 crash — at the time the deadliest road wreck in 13 years.

Jury selection began this week in the trial, which comes after a dramatic turnaround in the case last year when a judge rejected a plea agreement that would have meant no prison time for Hussain.

An appeals court recently upheld the plea deal rejection, clearing the way for the trial overseen by State Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch in Schoharie County Courthouse, not far from the crash site.

Many relatives of people killed when brake failure sent the stretch limo hurtling down a hilly road — and turned a birthday celebration into an unthinkable tragedy — have also decried the plea deal for being too lenient.

Prosecutors are expected to argue in part that Hussain failed to maintain the limo’s brakes and removed a state-issued out-of-service sticker from the vehicle to use it for more jobs.

Hussain’s attorneys have argued he tried to maintain the vehicle and relied on what he was told by state officials and a repair shop that inspected it.

A year later, families mourn the 20 lost 20 people died in a horrific limo crash. A year later, loved ones talk about life and loss

What led to the limo crash?

Prestige Limousine, Hussain's company, was the owner of a 2001 Ford Excursion stretch limo that barreled through a "T" intersection at the bottom of a steep hill in the rural town of Schoharie, about 30 miles west of Albany.

The limo crashed into an SUV parked in the Apple Barrel Country Store's parking lot, killing the limo driver, all 17 passengers and two bystanders.

Investigation: Brake failure, 'egregious disregard for safety' caused deadly NY limo crash, NTSB says

The limousine appeared to suffer brake failure and reached speeds of 100 mph as it descended, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The NTSB was highly critical of Prestige Limo, noting the vehicle was ordered out of service by the state Department of Transportation prior to the crash because of issues with the antilock brake system.

But the NTSB also criticized a pair of inspection shops — including a Mavis Discount Tire in Saratoga County — that inspected the stretch limousine without proper authority to do so, as well as the state of New York for failing to seize the vehicle's license plates before the crash.

The limo crash occurred as 17 friends headed out to celebrate the 30th birthday of Amy Steenburg at a Cooperstown brewery. Steenburg was one of four sisters from the same family killed in the crash, along with three of their husbands.

The limo trial plea deal

The now-rejected plea deal, agreed to by Hussain and Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery, called for a sentence of five years probation and 1,000 hours of community service.

Judge George Bartlett III accepted the plea deal, citing in part various issues that could have thrown a jury trial into doubt. Those included questions surrounding maintenance on the limo performed at Mavis as well as the state's oversight of Hussain's business.

Court: Judge nixes no-prison deal in 2018 limo crash that killed 20

Lynch, who took over the case after Bartlett retired, rejected the plea deal, calling it “fundamentally flawed.” He asserted, in part, that Hussain’s removal of the out-of-service sticker showed he knew the risk of putting the limo on the road, which made it improper to allow him to plead guilty to the lesser homicide charges instead of manslaughter.

In addition to the criminal trial, families of the crash victims have filed several civil lawsuits against Hussain and his father, Shahed Hussain, who owned Prestige Limousine and was once an undercover FBI informant, as well as others linked to the limo company.

An appeals court also recently denied a request by Mavis to be removed from one of the civil lawsuits, court records show.

Lee Kindlon, an attorney for Nauman Hussain, declined to comment on the criminal trial.

A Mavis spokesperson issued a statement in response to questions about the tire shop’s role in the case or civil lawsuit.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with the victims of this tragic accident and their families. However, Mavis bears no legal responsibility for this tragedy," the statement noted.

USA TODAY Network and Associated Press contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: NY limo crash trial begins. What to know about wreck that killed 20