Vehicle Explosion at Rainbow Bridge Kills Two, Leaves Border Crossing Closed as Investigation Continues

The Rainbow Bridge border crossing between Canada and the United States remains closed as authorities continue to investigate a vehicle explosion that occurred on Wednesday. The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission’s website states that the crossing is closed to entry on both sides of the border, while other nearby crossings are open.

The incident, which occurred at the port of entry, resulted in the death of two individuals and left one person injured. Following the explosion, security measures were immediately heightened on both sides of the border. New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the incident as a “horrific accident” and stated that it was not an act of terrorism.

The vehicle involved in the explosion crashed into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection booth at a high rate of speed, causing it to explode upon impact. The damage to the Rainbow Bridge will take time to assess, and Governor Hochul mentioned that the vehicle was completely incinerated, with only the engine remaining.

Authorities have reviewed security camera footage, which shows the car racing through an intersection, hitting a low median, and then crashing into a line of booths. Governor Hochul described the footage as “absolutely surreal” due to the vehicle’s height in the air and the subsequent crash and explosion.

While it is unclear how long the Rainbow Bridge crossing will remain closed, thousands of people are expected to travel through the region for American Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Law enforcement personnel have blocked off the entrance to the bridge, and security measures have been heightened at other checkpoints across the Canada-U.S. border.

The incident has prompted increased security measures in the area, with Toronto police and Peel Region police deploying more officers to airports and transportation hubs as a precaution. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc emphasized that Canada takes the situation “extremely seriously” and is working closely with U.S. authorities in the investigation.

The FBI has stated that there is no indication of a terrorism connection, and the investigation has been handed over to the U.S. Niagara Falls Police Department. The FBI also confirmed that no explosive materials were found at the scene.