2 fatalities reported in car explosion at Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the United States and Canada.

Debris is strewn across the customs plaza at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls, New York.

According to reports, two individuals lost their lives in a car explosion on Wednesday afternoon at Rainbow Bridge, a U.S.-Canada border crossing near Niagara Falls in western New York. Authorities stated that four border crossings between the United States and Canada in the region were temporarily shut down as investigators addressed the incident. While three crossings have since reopened, Rainbow Bridge continues to remain closed.

Several law enforcement sources informed  that two individuals perished within the vehicle involved in the explosion. A senior law enforcement official informed  that the nationalities of the deceased individuals have not been determined at this time.

U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed on Wednesday night that the deceased individuals were a married couple. The husband was driving, and his wife was the passenger. According to officials, the vehicle involved was identified as a Bentley, believed to have a value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The reason for the car explosion is still unknown. However, during a news conference on Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that, as of now, "there is no indication of terrorist involvement" in the "horrific" explosion.

On Wednesday night, the FBI Buffalo announced the completion of its investigation into the incident, revealing no presence of explosive materials or a "terrorism nexus." In a statement, the FBI conveyed that the case has been transferred to the Niagara Falls Police Department, now being treated as a traffic investigation.

Hochul mentioned that the crash resulted in the vehicle being "incinerated," leaving only the engine intact. She further noted that fragments of the car were strewn across 13 to 14 border security booths.

Initial reports presented conflicting information regarding the direction in which the car was traveling. However, on Wednesday afternoon, a senior U.S. law enforcement official informed  that the car was coming from the U.S. side and collided with the customs station.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted a brief snippet of security camera footage capturing the car rapidly speeding and becoming airborne.

Hochul stated that a border patrol officer, who was inside the customs station, sustained minor injuries. The officer was subsequently transported to a hospital, received treatment, and has been discharged.

Initial evaluations by federal authorities and information from law enforcement sources suggest that the vehicle was moving at a significant speed when it struck a curb. This impact caused the vehicle to crash through a fence and a Customs and Border Protection inspection area, resulting in a subsequent fire and explosion. Witnesses have reported to authorities that the vehicle became airborne upon hitting the fence and then exploded upon landing, as per a source in law enforcement informed to the concern authority.

Scott Sweetow, the former director of the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center, suggested that the explosion could be attributed to a "fuel-air explosion." This type of explosion occurs when a fuel and air mixture ignites.

"I am conjecturing that, given the high speed of the car and its near disintegration, as the fuel in the compromised gas tank surged forward at high speed, it mixed with the air, forming almost a gasoline cloud. This, in turn, ignited and produced the dramatic fireball we all witnessed," Sweetow explained.

As per preliminary assessments and information from law enforcement sources, officials have not yet ascertained whether the crash was intentional or accidental.

"At the moment, we have no signs indicating a terrorism threat," stated FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia during a news conference on Wednesday evening.

He refrained from disclosing any details about the individuals in the car, stating, "We're still in the process of notifying family members." Additionally, he emphasized, "We do not possess any negative information about the identified individual."

During the briefing, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross stated, "We will persist in our investigation, but our initial assessment of this situation is that it was not related to terrorism. Nevertheless, we will remain vigilant."

Mike Guenther, a Canadian resident on a visit to New York, recounted witnessing the incident, stating, "He was flying, over 100 miles an hour. There was a car in front of him, he swerved out, went in front of the car, hit the fence, went flying up into the air … and we just saw the fireball, and that's all we could see, there was just smoke everywhere," during an interview with NewsNation. Guenther mentioned that the car was traveling from the U.S. towards Canada.

Niagara Falls tour guide Randie Wilson described the crash as resembling a scene from a movie. Wilson mentioned that as he was exiting his car, he witnessed something airborne and initially thought it was an airplane moving in slow motion. He recalled saying, "My God, it's a car."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Parliament, stating that the Canadian government is closely coordinating with U.S. officials. He mentioned that "additional measures are being considered and implemented at all border crossings across the country."

"We are taking this extraordinarily seriously," Trudeau said.

Governor Hochul stated in a prior announcement that "the New York State Police is actively collaborating with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to oversee all entry points into New York." She mentioned that she was en route to Buffalo to "confer with law enforcement and emergency responders."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, representing New York, reported being briefed by the FBI. He shared on social media, "Initial reports indicate the two people killed were in the car, but nothing's been determined on their identity or motive." Schumer added that "law enforcement remains on heightened alert over Thanksgiving."