NEWS
Rainbow Bridge Vehicle Explosion Not Connected To Terrorism, Officials Say
Derek Gee/The Buffalo News
A car that exploded at a U.S.–Canada border crossing in Niagara Falls, N.Y., on Wednesday, killing two people, went airborne before crashing into a checkpoint at the Rainbow Bridge, officials said.
At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist attack, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a press conference. Let me repeat that: At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist-involved attack here at the Rainbow Bridge in Western New York.”
All Western New York border crossings were closed after the crash, and security was increased at airports in Niagara Falls and 30 miles south in Buffalo while state and federal authorities investigated the possibility of terrorism.
Hochul said it was was a horrific accident that led to a high-level anxiety all the way from western New York to Albany to Washington.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection shared surveillance video of the crash that shows the car speeding and flying through the air. Hochul said the car was going at an “extraordinarily high rate of speed” before the surreal crash on the U.S. side of the border.
“When you see this video, your jaw will drop in disbelief at how this went so high, over an 8-foot-high fence,” she said.
This vehicle basically incinerated, Hochul said. Nothing is left but the engine. The pieces are scattered over 13, 14 booths.
The two people who died were in the vehicle that crashed. At least one of the deceased was from western New York.
A Customs and Border Protection employee working in the booth sustained minor injuries and was treated at a hospital and released. Hochul said “the booth literally protected that individual.”
Authorities are still investigating whether the crash was intentional.
While Rainbow Bridge remained closed Wednesday, the Peace Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge and Lewiston Bridge border crossings were reopened, CBP said. The increased security alert at Buffalo Niagara International Airport was lifted shortly before 8:30 p.m.
TMX contributed to this article.
