Crown Bay Nursing Facility to Offer Counseling to Patients, Coworkers of Nurse Who Survived Limo Fire

Fellow employees, patients and friends of an Alameda nurse are wishing her a speedy recovery after she survived a tragic limousine fire on the San Mateo Bridge over the weekend.

Mary Grace Guardiano, 42, of Alameda was one of nine passengers heading from Alameda to Foster City for a bridal shower, when the limo they were in caught fire Saturday evening. Five of the passengers died in the blaze, while four were hospitalized. 

Administrator Terry Stewart of Crown Bay Nursing and Residential Center (508 Westline Dr.), where Guardiano works, told Patch that she is believed to be home recovering from the incident.

"She really a superstar to us," he said of Guardiano, who has worked at the facility for five years. "She's very connected with her patients."

According to Stewart, Crown Bay employees are a close-knit community. 

Another survivor of the limo fire, Amalia Loyola, 48, of San Leandro had also worked at Crown Bay from 2007 to 2009 according to Stewart, and may have still stayed friends with current employees.

Stewart said that counselors and any support necessary will be available this week to patients, family and friends of Guardiano.

In her absence, another nurse will tend to her 20 to 22 patients, who she served during a 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift.