Rainbow Bridge explosion: Possible cause of Niagara Falls crash revealed

The cause of the Rainbow Bridge deadly vehicle explosion remains something of a mystery, with investigators now exploring whether a mechanical failure in the car could be to blame.

A New York couple, who have not been publicly named, were both killed on Wednesday when their speeding Bentley rammed into the border crossing along Niagara Falls, which connects the US and Canada.

The blast instantly sparked fears of a terrorist attack, prompting Canadian and US officials to briefly close all four border bridges between the two nations and ground planes at nearby Buffalo Airport.

Hours later, the FBI Buffalo office and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that there were no signs that the incident was terror-related.

Now, two days on, investigators are still working to piece together what caused the deadly crash which has left the couple’s upstate New York community in mourning.

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The New York couple that died in a fiery crash after their car hit a curb and launched into the air on the Rainbow Bridge had reportedly been planning to attend a KISS concert in Toronto,

Investigators told news outlets the two people in the car, were a man and a woman planning to attend a KISS concert in Toronto but were forced to change their plans when the gig was cancelled due to the frontman falling ill.

The pair reportedly drove a Bentley vehicle to the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino, located less than a mile from the bridge, where they made a brief appearance.

The crash then unfolded when the couple left the casino and began travelling at high speeds toward the Rainbow Bridge, which connects New York to Canada.

Many questions remain as to what caused the crash and whether it was intentional or accidental, with investigators probing the possibility that the driver may have suffered a medical emergency.

Law enforcement sources told CNN that the couple, who have not been identified, were residents of western New York.

The couple’s friend Chuck Meyer also revealed his shock when he learned that the tragedy broadcast on national news involved those close to him.

“I got home yesterday (Wednesday). I didn’t know anything other than hearing things on the news about the border, and then saw that their driveway was filled up with all these cars,” he told NBC-affiliate-WGRZ on Thursday.

“I thought, ‘Oh, they’re having Christmas or Thanksgiving early, and like, that’s really nice.’ And then about an hour later, heard the news and I’m like, ‘oh my God.’”

The husband and wife were members of Niagara Sailing Club on Grand Island, the club’s treasurer Scott Henderson said.

“Not only were people talking but then I made an announcement and some people were just incredibly shocked,” he said.

“It’s just not only a younger couple like that, but so ingrained and influential in this community.”

The cause of Wednesday’s Rainbow Bridge vehicle explosion remains something of a mystery, with investigators now probing whether a mechanical failure could be to blame.

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.

Dramatic footage captured the vehicle speeding up before it hit a curb on the US side of the border, became airborne and then combusted, killing the two people inside.

A deadly crash at a border crossing between the US and Canada is believed to have involved a New York couple who had planned to attend a Kiss concert in Toronto on Wednesday night.

Law enforcement sources told CNN that the couple, who have not been identified but were said to have lived in western New York, were speeding in their Bentley when the car rammed into the Rainbow Bridge crossing, killing them both.

The blast sparked fears of a terrorist attack and prompted Canadian and US officials to briefly close all border bridges between the two nations and ground planes at nearby Buffalo Airport.

Hours later, the FBI Buffalo office and New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that there were no signs that the incident was terror-related.

Read the full story here:

At approximately 11:20am: A Bentley crashes into a curb at Rainbow Bridge, launches through the air and explodes, killing two people inside and injuring one outside of the vehicle.

11:32am: Niagara Falls Police Department arrives at the scene.

11:51am: Rainbow Bridge closed.

Approximately 12:50pm: New York Governor Kathy Hochul briefed on the situation.

Approximately 1pm: FBI in the Buffalo field office opens an investigation.

4:20pm: Injured person released from hospital.

Approximately 5pm: Ms Hochul confirms the incident was not related to terrorism. Other US-Canada bridges reopen.

Approximately 9:30 pm: FBI Buffalo close their investigation and hand it over to Niagara Falls Police Department

9 am: Niagara Falls PD says an investigation may take some time and is awaiting the victims’ positive identification.