NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Police identified Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53 from Grand Island, New York, as the victims of a fatal car crash on the bridge linking New York and Ontario near Niagara Falls. The crash, which occurred on the eve of Thanksgiving, initially sparked security concerns.
Niagara Falls police’s Crash Management unit continues to investigate the incident, which involved the car traveling at high speed from the U.S. side, colliding with an object, becoming airborne, and then bursting into flames upon impact.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer sustained minor injuries during the response to the crash. They were treated at a local hospital and have since been released.
The incident led to the temporary closure of four U.S.-Canadian border crossings and a halt on international flights at Buffalo International Airport, as per the Federal Aviation Administration. This response stemmed from initial fears of a terrorist attack.
However, investigations by U.S. federal agencies, including the FBI, concluded the crash was not related to terrorism.
CNN reports, citing investigator sources, that the driver intended to attend a KISS concert in Canada. Following the concert’s cancellation, the couple visited a casino in the U.S. The crash occurred after they left the casino.