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Investigators share troubling new theory about car that crashed and exploded on Rainbow Bridge

Home> News> US News

Published 17:47 24 Nov 2023 GMT

Investigators share troubling new theory about car that crashed and exploded on Rainbow Bridge

The ordeal sadly killed Kurt Villani and his wife, Monica.

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

Police have issued an update in the wake of a shocking car explosion that left two people dead.

On Wednesday, November 22, married couple Kurt and Monica Villani were thought to be on their way to a KISS concert in Toronto, Canada, and drove over Rainbow Bridge to get to their location.

But the pair never made it to Toronto as their $300,000 Bentley crashed and exploded by a border crossing booth.

Before erupting into flames, witnesses said that the car started travelling at a 'very high rate of speed' - reported to be 100mph - before driving over an 8ft fence of the New York side of the check-point.

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There were initial concerns that the incident was terror related, but the FBI quickly confirmed that they'd found 'no explosive material, and no terrorism nexus' at the scene.

As police continue their investigations into what exactly happened to the couple and their car, mayor of Niagara Falls, Robert Restaino has shared what he'd heard from the authorities so far to The New York Times.

Rainbow Bridge was closed for 2 days after the incident.
John Normile/Getty Images

Niagara Falls police took over the investigation from the FBI after they found that the crash wasn't terror related.

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According to Restanino, one theory that police have is that the Bentley - which may have been an older model - experienced a 'mechanical failure' that caused it to speed up.

But Erin Bronner, a spokeswoman for the American arm of Bentley Motors, said that the police are yet to contact the carmaker about the ordeal.

As of yesterday (November 23), investigators had traced the couple's steps back a casino downtown to the border crossing after looking at CCTV footage.

A spokesman for Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino has since confirmed that Mr and Mrs Villani had been in the establishment shortly before the fatal crash.

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The pair are said to have both been in their 50s and had owned several businesses in Western New York.

The car exploded by a border crossing booth.
John Normile/Getty Images

As the case remains ongoing, it isn't expected that the authorities will give their verdict anytime soon.

Niagara Police Department Superintendent John Faso warned: "Due to the complexity of the incident, the investigation will take some time to complete.”

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The couple's loved ones have been left devastated by their untimely passing.

The Villani's friend, Chuck Meyer, said to WGRV: "It’s really shock and devastation, and it’s gut-wrenching, really."

"They were so loved," he added as he went on to hail his late friends as being 'generous and kind'.

Featured Image Credit: US Customs and Border Patrol

Topics: News, US News, Canada, Police

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

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@niamhshackleton

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