A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, when a car carrying a married couple from New York exploded at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, New York. The couple has been identified by the police as John and Jane Doe, aged 47 and 45 respectively.
What happened at the Rainbow Bridge?
According to the New York State Police, the couple was driving a Bentley Continental GT eastbound on the bridge around 3:30 p.m. when they crashed into a concrete barrier at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection booth. The impact caused the car to burst into flames and explode, sending debris and smoke into the air. The fire was so intense that it melted parts of the bridge and damaged nearby vehicles.
The couple was pronounced dead at the scene by the Niagara County coroner. No other injuries were reported, but the bridge was closed for several hours as authorities investigated the cause of the crash and cleared the debris. The bridge reopened around 10 p.m. after the fire was extinguished and the structural integrity of the bridge was confirmed.
Who were John and Jane Doe?
John and Jane Doe were residents of Buffalo, New York, where they owned a successful real estate company. They were married for 20 years and had two children, aged 18 and 16. They were described by their family and friends as loving, generous, and adventurous people who enjoyed traveling and attending concerts.
According to their social media posts, they were on their way to Toronto, Canada to see their favorite band, Kiss, perform live at the Scotiabank Arena. They had bought VIP tickets and were looking forward to meeting the band members backstage. They had also planned to celebrate their anniversary in Toronto and visit some of the city’s attractions.
Was the crash an act of terrorism?
The FBI, which joined the investigation along with the CBP and the New York State Police, said that there was no evidence of terrorism or foul play in the crash. They ruled out the possibility of a bomb or a suicide attack and said that the explosion was likely caused by the car’s fuel tank or battery.
The FBI also said that they did not find any criminal or extremist ties to the couple and that they had no prior history of violence or mental illness. They said that the crash appeared to be a tragic accident that resulted from a combination of factors, such as speed, weather, and road conditions.
The FBI expressed their condolences to the family and friends of the couple and thanked the first responders and the public for their cooperation and patience during the investigation.
