Fiery vehicle crash at Rainbow Bridge kills two; no terror link found by investigators

A vehicle crash and subsequent explosion at a checkpoint on the American side of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls on Wednesday resulted in two fatalities.

Despite initial concerns, authorities have found no evidence of a terrorist attack. The FBI’s Buffalo office concluded its investigation, stating that no explosive materials were found and no connection to terrorism was identified. The incident has been handed over to the Niagara Falls Police Department as a traffic investigation.

The crash occurred as the vehicle sped toward the U.S.-Canada bridge from the American side, crashing and exploding at the checkpoint. The identities of the two deceased, a husband and wife, have not been released. New York Governor Kathy Hochul commented that the driver, a western New York resident, may not have been intentionally heading for the bridge. The FBI found no derogatory information about the driver, and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer confirmed that there was no link to any terrorist or criminal group.

The incident, which occurred around 11:30 a.m., prompted the temporary closure of the Rainbow Bridge and three other border crossings, causing significant traffic disruptions on one of the busiest U.S. travel days of the year. The car, described as “basically incinerated” by Hochul, left debris scattered across the checkpoint. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection worker sustained minor injuries. The crash and its aftermath, including the sight of the car airborne and the resulting explosion, were captured by security cameras and bystanders, adding to the surreal and alarming nature of the event.