NEW YORK CITY ? The driver of a van involved in a fiery crash that killed five residents of an adult home had a suspended license, authorities said Thursday.

Guy Thelemaque’s license was suspended June 26 for failure to respond to a traffic ticket, said Ken Brown, a spokesman for the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Thelemaque also never had a license that allowed him to drive more than seven passengers.

The wreck happened Wednesday as Thelemaque, 55, was driving nine people back to the adult home after they had spent the day at a hospital for medical monitoring and other services.

Five other people in the van, including the driver, were injured. Thelemaque and two passengers were in critical condition; two others were in stable condition.

A telephone number listed for the driver was disconnected. A man who answered the phone at Instant Ambulette, the company that employed Thelemaque, said he could not comment.

Leon Hofman, who assumed ownership of the home, Brooklyn Manor, on July 1, said it was too soon to comment on the accident.