If you were online on November 22, 2023, you must have witnessed hashtags like “Terrorism” and “Close The Borders” trending online.
Clicking on them would have probably taken you to various vague posts saying we need to stop immigration while others said that everyone needs to wait for more details about the crash.
Thankfully, more details are now available about the fatal crash that happened on the Rainbow Bridge that connects the USA and Canada. So who died? And was it a terrorist attack?
53-year-old Kurt P. Villani and his wife Monica Villani were killed on November 22, 2023, when their 2022 Bentley hit a cement barrier and exploded near the Rainbow Bridge that connects the U.S. and Canada. They were traveling from Grand Island, New York, to a KISS concert in Toronto. The FBI Buffalo office has ruled out explosive materials and terrorism.
Explained: Rainbow Bridge Car Explosion and Kurt and Monica Villani
Two people, Kurt P. Villani and his wife Monica Villani, were killed in a car explosion near the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls, that connects the U.S. and Canada on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Both victims were 53 years old and were from Grand Island, New York.
As the name says, Grand Island is an island town in Erie County, New York. It is only 10 miles from Rainbow Bridge. The incident happened when a 2022 Bentley hit a cement barrier with the couple while going down Niagara Street at considerable speed.
The collision impact launched the vehicle in the air before it exploded near the customs plaza. The car was completely destroyed and incinerated. There was nothing left except the engine. Witnesses found that pieces of the vehicle were scattered over multiple booths.
One U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) worker suffered some light injuries but immediately received hospital treatment. They have been released since then. This fatal incident happened on the U.S. side of the border.
Initially, there were rumors of a terrorist or immigrant attack that caused the crash. However, that has been proven false by the FBI Buffalo office (as per NBC News):
“FBI Buffalo has concluded our investigation at the scene of the Rainbow Bridge incident. A search of the scene revealed no explosive materials, and no terrorism nexus was identified. The matter has been turned over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation.”
However, many wondered why the car went airborne and exploded. Former Secret Service agent Michael Verden, who also founded The Lake Forest Group, a security consulting agency, said in a conversation with Fox News:
“If the car has a half tank, a full tank of gas at 100 miles an hour, when it hits cement, that vehicle will explode. It’s going to explode like a bomb. … There’s rationale behind the vehicle exploding, is my point.”
Immediately after the crash, the U.S. authorities shut down the Rainbow Bridge and three other bridge crossings heading from western New York State to Ontario in Canada.
Police patrols were increased in Toronto, and additional security was brought in for the vehicles entering Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Kurt and Monica Villani had stopped at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino for a few minutes just before the devastating accident. They were planning on attending a KISS concert in Toronto on Wednesday night.
Sadly, the concert was canceled because Paul Stanley was sick with the flu. The Niagara Falls Police Superintendent John Faso said after the incident:
“The City of Niagara Falls would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families as they deal with this tragedy.”
Why do you think many online jumped to terrorism immediately upon hearing the news?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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