Rainbow Bridge crash: Niagara Falls police warn against misinformation

New York couple Kurt and Monica Villani died on Wednesday when their speeding Bentley rammed into the border crossing in Niagara Falls, causing an explosion

Smoke billows from Niagara Falls explosion as two people dead in vehicle blast

Police in Niagara Falls have warned the public about the dangers of misinformation about the deadly crash at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing.

Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53 and from Grand Island, New York, were killed last Wednesday when their speeding Bentley rammed into the border crossing, which connects the US and Canada.

The blast instantly sparked fears of a terrorist attack, but officials later ruled this out.

Now, investigators are still working to piece together what caused the deadly crash with authorities probing the possibility of a mechanical failure on the car or a medical emergency involving the driver.

Police are also using 3D scanning technology to help create a “digital crash scene”.

While information remains scant, Niagara police chief of police hit out at the rampant speculation which is causing “significant and unnecessary anxiety” within the local community.

“We saw an immense amount of misinformation and speculation on both mainstream and social media platforms, which created significant and unnecessary anxiety in the community,” he said.

Key Points

• Who were the two people killed in the blast?
• Casino where car stopped before crash cooperating with police
• Dramatic surveillance footage captures fiery car crash
• New York Governor Hochul says ‘no sign of terrorist activity’
• Right-wing figures bashed for rushing to label crash a terrorist attack

[27 November 2023 22:00 · Ariana Baio]

What was the cause of the fatal crash?

The cause of the crash is still unknown, but officials have ruled out that it was caused by a terrorist act.

Others have speculated that it was caused by the Bentley, which the couple were driving.

Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

However, a spokesperson for the US arm of Bentley Motors told the outlet that the automaker was yet to hear from investigators about the incident.

We might not know exactly what happened for some time. “Due to the complexity of the incident, the investigation will take some time to complete,” the Niagara Falls Police have said.

[28 November 2023 00:00 · Ariana Baio]

ICYMI: Two dead in Niagara car explosion that closed US-Canada border

New York’s governor says that there is “no sign of terrorism” in the violent vehicle explosion that left two people dead and injured a border guard at the Rainbow Bridge crossing between the United States and Canada in New York near Niagara Falls.

Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that there was no evidence of any terror planning and that an investigation would continue to look into what happened.

Graeme Massie reports:

[28 November 2023 02:00 · Ariana Baio]

A statement from the family

The Villanis own Gui’s Lumber, a chain of stores across western New York. CBC reached out to the business:

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that [have] extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing,” the statement says

[28 November 2023 04:00 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Vehicle explodes after crash on Rainbow Bridge

[28 November 2023 07:00 · Ariana Baio]

The blast could have been caused by a “fuel-air explosion,” former official says

Scott Sweetow, the former director of the FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center, told CBS News the eruption may have been the result of a “fuel-air explosion.”

“I am speculating that, due to the high speed of the car, and almost disintegration of [the car], that as fuel in the breached gas tank went forward under high speed, it mixed with the air and created almost a cloud of gasoline, which then ignited, creating the dramatic fireball we all saw,” he told the outlet.

[28 November 2023 10:00 · Mike Beidgan]

Police use 3D scanners to create ‘digital crash scene’ following Rainbow Bridge explosion

Police are using 3D scanning technology to help create a “digital crash scene”, as the investigation into the Rainbow Bridge vehicle explosion continues.

The incident, in which two people were killed, occurred at the bridge at the US-Canada border crossing on Wednesday, sparking concerns over possible terrorist activity – though these suggestions were later dismissed by authorities.

On Friday the two occupants of the vehicle who were killed in the explosion were named as husband and wife Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, with tributes pouring in from friends and neighbours.

According to Niagara Falls Police Department Chief John Faso, 3D scanners are now being used to help create a “digital crash scene” to help discover the cause of the crash.

“They take it to the scene, it scans the scene and reproduces a 3D image for them to work on of the entire scene,” Mr Faso told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

There has been speculation that the driver of the vehicle may have suffered some sort of medical condition, causing the vehicle to crash.

Investigators are also probing as to whether a mechanical failure could be to blame, with experts suggesting that the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder (EDR) – which is similar to an aircraft’s “black box” – may be critical to discovering the cause of the crash.

Automotive analyst Lauren Fix believes that acceleration data recovered from the EDR may help investigators narrow the determining factors of the crash.

“Every vehicle collects your data, that data is shared with the manufacturers,” Ms Fix told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ.

[28 November 2023 12:00 · Ariana Baio]

Bentley spokesperson weighs in

In the wake of the incident, Robert Restaino, the mayor of Niagara Falls, told The New York Times that the Bentley the couple was driving in was an older model and may have experienced some sort of mechanical glitch that caused it to suddenly accelerate as it approached the border checkpoint.

Erin Bronner, a spokesperson for Bentley USA, told WIVB 4: “We will work with the authorities quickly as soon as we are contacted and if we can aid in any investigation.”

[28 November 2023 14:00 · Ariana Baio]

Tributes pour in for couple killed in fiery crash on Rainbow Bridge

Tributes are pouring in for the New York couple who were killed in the fiery car crash on the Rainbow Bridge which connects the US and Canada.

The couple was named by police on Friday as Kurt P Villani and Monica Villani, though devastated friends, neighbours and loved ones in the upstate New York community of Grand Island knew the victims’ identities before they were officially confirmed.

“Everybody knows everybody on Grand Island... It’s the smallest town of small towns,” Eric Fiebelkorn, president of the Chamber of Commerce on Grand Island, told The Buffalo News.

“They are a very generous and community-oriented family. It leaves a void in our small-town business community that will be very difficult to fill. Our prayers and our thoughts certainly go out to their family and staff.”

Mike Bedigan reports: