The car in which the American couple who died after the serious accident and explosion on the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday was traveling may have had a mechanical defect.
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The vehicle, a Bentley worth an estimated $300,000, was traveling at more than 100 mph when it crashed into a fence. It was then thrown into the air before exploding and bursting into flames.
Two residents, Kurt Villani and his wife Monica Villani, wealthy 53-year-old New York entrepreneurs, died in the tragedy.
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If some have spoken of a terrorist act, this is not the case. Rather, the vehicle could have had a mechanical defect, reports the New York Times.
The FBI also confirmed a few hours after the accident that it had closed its own investigation after finding “no explosive material or any connection to terrorism.”
The crash is now the subject of a “collision investigation” by Niagara Falls police. Driver discomfort cannot be ruled out.
The couple in the car were on their way to the KISS concert in Toronto, a concert that was canceled because frontman Paul Stanley came down with the flu.
Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino also told the New York Times that investigators are looking into a possible mechanical failure.
Police told the Buffalo News it was a 2022 Bentley sedan worth about $300,000.
Erin Bronner, a spokeswoman for Bentley Motors’ US branch, told AFP that authorities had not yet contacted the automaker about the incident.
The couple stopped briefly at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino about 1.2 miles away before the accident.
The Villanis owned several businesses in Western New York, including the family business Gui’s Lumber near their home in the small upstate community of Grand Island.
They were both members of the Niagara Sailing Club on Grand Island and prominent members of the community.
The victims’ friend, Chuck Meyer, also described the couple as good neighbors and friends.
“It’s really a shock and a devastation, and it’s really heartbreaking,” Meyer said of her reaction to the news. “They were so loved. They were so generous and kind and always willing to help,” he added. “They were always willing to help and lend a hand. Always, always, always.”