There is no international border longer than the one between the United States and Canada. There are now 26 bridges or tunnels used for the 119 authorised land border crossings between the US and Canada. An accident took place at the Rainbow Bridge where a car crashed and burst into flames resulting in the death of two. Here’s all about the car crash at the US-Canada border.
US-Canada Border: A Car Crash At Rainbow Bridge Kills 2
CBP is working closely with @FBI, federal, state & local partners in response to a vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge which remains closed. Out of abundance of caution, CBP temporarily suspended inbound/outbound traffic at 3 other Buffalo crossings that have since reopened. pic.twitter.com/pTXyUsavRB
— CBP (@CBP) November 22, 2023
Two persons were killed in a speeding car crash that resulted in a security alert and the closure of four U.S.-Canadian border crossings on Wednesday. The crash happened on the bridge that connects New York state and Ontario in Niagara Falls.
A few hours later, federal and state officials said that they had not discovered any proof of a terrorist attack. However, the circumstances surrounding the collision on the Rainbow Bridge were still unclear, making it difficult to say if it was an accident or deliberate.
According to a Reuters report, New York Governor Kathy Hochul clarified that there is no indication of terrorism. Additionally, an FBI statement clarified that no explosive materials were found at the scene, and no connection to terrorism was found.
The car was leaving the United States at a fast rate of speed when it crashed into something and shot into the air, exploding in flames. The incident was captured on surveillance camera and uploaded to X by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency.
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A CBP officer was slightly hurt in the collision, and the driver and a passenger died. Later, an agency official reported that he was treated at a hospital and released. The two fatalities were not identified by the authorities. As per CNN, the driver was a 56-year-old guy who was taking his wife to an event featuring the rock band KISS in a Bentley.
New York Governor Claimed No Disruptions
I’ve been briefed on the incident on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls and we are closely monitoring the situation. State agencies are on site and ready to assist.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) November 22, 2023
The New York Governor stated there were no disruptions despite the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) claiming on its website that Buffalo Niagara International Airport had closed. The crash occurred on Thanksgiving eve, during the height of U.S. holiday travel, and at a time when security fears worldwide were raised due to the Middle East conflict.
As a precaution, the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, the Whirlpool Bridge, the Peace Bridge, and the Rainbow Bridge—the other three border crossings along the Niagara River that connect western New York with the Canadian province of Ontario—were all closed for several hours.
With a “heightened alert status,” other international crossings were still open, according to the governor. According to officials, security has been tightened at several additional airports, railways run by the Niagara-Frontier Transit Authority, and spots all across New York City. While officials continued to investigate and evaluate the crossing’s safety, the three bridges that were not affected were reopened early on Wednesday night.
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According to the governor, the car collided and went flying over an eight-foot-tall barrier before exploding in a flame that destroyed the car. It left the engine visible and threw debris across over a dozen guard booths on the bridge.
Cover Image Courtesy: MJ/ X & Ian Miles Cheong/ X
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First Published: November 23, 2023 11:28 AM