Niagara Falls Tragedy: Couple from NY Named as Victims of Car Explosion

The two people killed when their car crashed into a border checkpoint in Niagara Falls and exploded in a fiery wreck have been identified as husband and wife, Kurt Villani and Monica Villani, of Grand Island, N.Y. The couple, both 53, died after their car raced through an intersection, hit a low median, and then slammed into a row of security booths before bursting into flames. The tragic incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the U.S. and Canada near Niagara Falls. The couple reportedly survived by their children, Mia, 27, and Kurt Jr., 26. Authorities have confirmed there is no indication of a terrorist attack, and no terrorism nexus has been identified. The Rainbow Bridge reopened to all traffic Thursday night, more than 30 hours after the accident, which also led to the halt of “nearby cross-border travel for hours,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. The incident remains under investigation, and “therefore no further details” have been released regarding what exactly led to the crash.