A deadly high-speed car crash sparked chaos and temporarily closed four bridges connecting New York and Canada on Wednesday. The shocking incident was captured on video, showing the speeding luxury vehicle go airborne, hit a guardrail and erupt in flames.
The Crash That Halted Cross-Border Travel
Shortly before 7:30 pm on November 23, a Bentley speeding towards Canada on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls struck a concrete barrier and launched into the air over a guardrail. The luxury sedan crashed into the U.S. Customs area used for secondary inspections of incoming vehicles.
More footage from the Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge border crossing has come out showing the vehicle.
Additionally, New York's Governor has stated she doesn't believe it was "terror related."
Developing…#NiagaraFalls #RainbowBridge #Border pic.twitter.com/Weay8kzRSK
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) November 22, 2023
The vehicle burst into flames on impact. Both the driver and passenger were killed. Their identities have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
In the aftermath of the dramatic and deadly crash, U.S. border patrol officers halted traffic on the Rainbow Bridge and three other nearby crossings between New York and Ontario. The bridges were closed out of concern that the incident could be a terrorist attack.
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Investigating a Potential Terror Attack
The shocking scene initially raised alarms that terrorism could be involved. The vehicle in question was speeding erratically before the crash.
“I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers, at this time there is no indication of a terrorist attack,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul at a news conference.
U.S. Attorney Trini Ross later confirmed that the ongoing investigation suggests the incident was not an attack. The FBI reported finding no ties to terrorism, explosives or other sinister motives.
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Impact on Holiday Travel
The crash occurred on the eve of Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days in the United States. An estimated 55 million Americans were expected to travel for the holiday weekend, many crossing the Canadian border in upstate New York.
The four bridges between New York and Ontario remained closed for over 24 hours, creating extensive delays. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that the border shutdown had created “a very serious situation” for holiday travelers.
By Thursday evening, three of the four bridges had reopened to traffic. U.S. and Canadian officials are working to restore normal cross-border transit as soon as possible.
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