Two people dead in Rainbow Bridge vehicle explosion
Two people are dead after a speeding vehicle went airborne and burst into flames at the Rainbow Bridge border checkpoint on Wednesday morning.
It happened just before 11:30 a.m. on the U.S. side of the crossing.
Surveillance footage, released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shows the vehicle speeding down a road leading up to the border checkpoint. The vehicle then leaves the roadway, crosses over a median and appears to go airborne.
Officials have confirmed that two individuals inside the vehicle died as a result of the incident.
A U.S. border patrol officer also sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital. They have since been treated and released.
“When you look at the scale of the scene, at how far the pieces of this vehicle exploded and scattered and the fact that there has been some damage to other vehicles, thank God there was nobody else injured,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday afternoon. “It could have been much more cataclysmic.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
At this point it is not clear what lead up to the incident, however Hochul said that there is “no evidence at this time” of terrorist activity.
Sources did tell CTV News earlier in the day that Canadian government officials were initially operating under the assumption that it was terror-related.
For that reason officials conveyed to police forces that they should increase their presence at likely terror targets, the sources said.
At around 9:40 p.m., Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Buffalo said it concluded its investigation into the incident, and that Niagara Falls police have taken over "as a traffic investigation."
“A search of the scene revealed no explosive materials, and no terrorism nexus was identified," the statement, shared on X, reads.
All Niagara border crossings were closed
Officials initially closed the Rainbow Bridge and three other Niagara border crossings following the explosion.
However, Ontario Provincial Police confirmed shortly after 5 p.m. that the Whirlpool Bridge, the Peace Bridge and the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge were reopening to traffic.
The Rainbow Bridge remains closed. The incident also led to flights being briefly grounded at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. During the news briefing, Gov. Hochul said the airport is open and "everything is normal."
One witness, who spoke with NBC’s Buffalo affiliate earlier in the day, said that he saw the car heading toward the border at a high-rate of speed immediately prior to the explosion.
“It was flying. Over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h),” Mike Guenther said. “It hit the fence and flew up into the air, and we’ve just seen the fireball. It was covered with smoke everywhere. It was going towards Canada.”
Hochul did not say where the vehicle was coming from, though she did say that it was most likely in the vicinity prior to the crash and was being operated by a resident of western New York.
She said that at this point officials are still investigating whether the collision was an accident or whether it may have been “intentional” in some fashion.
“When you see this video your jaw will drop in disbelief at how this (the vehicle) went so high, over an eight feet high fence, it is rather extraordinary,” she said. “This is not an isolated late night occurrence. This is the busiest travel day of the year.”
Premier Doug Ford said earlier on Wednesday that he was briefed in the aftermath of the incident and that the Ontario Provincial Police were “actively engaged in assessing the situation.”
The OPP said in a subsequent statement at around 5 p.m. that there “was no known threat to public safety in Ontario.”
“We recognize that incidents like these can have an emotional impact. The OPP is committed to keeping our communities safe and secure,” the said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada travellers share worries and frustrations ahead of possible pilot strike
Here's what customers had to say about their travel plans ahead of a potential Air Canada pilot strike.
Trudeau says Ukraine can strike deep into Russia with NATO arms, Putin hints at war
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ukraine should be allowed to strike deep inside Russia, regardless of Moscow threatening that this would draw Canada and its allies into direct war.
Driver charged with killing NHL's Johnny Gaudreau and his brother had .087 blood-alcohol level
The driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew as they bicycled on a rural road had a blood-alcohol level of .087, above the .08 legal limit in New Jersey, a prosecutor said Friday.
Ontario's top court dismisses application for bail from Jacob Hoggard
Jacob Hoggard will remain behind bars while he tries to appeal his sexual assault conviction at Canada's top court, a justice with Ontario's Appeal Court ruled Friday, calling the musician's attempt unlikely to succeed.
2 suspects charged after Lamborghini stolen in armed home invasion in Richmond Hill: police
York Regional Police say they have arrested two suspects and are looking for at least one more following an armed home invasion in Richmond Hill that saw thieves escape in the victim’s Lamborghini.
Stuck-in-space astronauts make first public comments since Boeing capsule left without them
Stuck-in-space astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams said Friday they appreciated all the prayers and well wishes from strangers back home.
Former NHL enforcer Stephen Peat dies after being hit by car in B.C.
Stephen Peat, the former Washington Capitals enforcer who fought concussion issues and was homeless at times after leaving hockey, has died from injuries sustained late last month when he was struck by a car while crossing a street. He was 44.
A cat named Drifter is safe after sneaking out and getting trapped in a sewer for nearly 8 weeks
A cat aptly named Drifter is safe at home after sneaking outside and getting trapped in a sewer for nearly eight weeks.
LIVE UPDATES Air Canada flights could halt next week: Here's the latest
Air Canada's potential work stoppage could ground flights, halt cargo and leave travellers scrambling to reschedule next week. Follow along with live updates here.