Rainbow Bridge between U.S., Canada still closed after crash, but 'no terrorist activity'

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday that authorities had found no signs of terrorist activity in a car explosion near a bridge between the U.S. and Canada that set off security alerts and disrupted travel in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area on one of the year's busiest travel days.

In a 5 p.m. press briefing in Niagara Falls, Hochul said two people died in a horrific crash in which their speeding car hit a median and flew high into the air, ending with an explosion that left little intact. The incident occurred on the U.S. side at the border security booths at the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the two countries across the Niagara River.

"If you can imagine, this vehicle basically incinerated," she said. "Nothing is left but the engine. The pieces were scattered over 13, 14 booths."

She gave no information about the two people who died in the crash, other than that one was from western New York, or the possible reasons for the crash. She said the vehicle was traveling at an "extraordinarily high rate of speed" and flew so high in the air that it cleared an eight-foot fence.

Updates on Rainbow Bridge crash 'No sign of terrorist activity' in Rainbow Bridge car explosion. What we know now

Hochul: No threats to the area after Rainbow Bridge crash

Reports of a car explosion near the country's northern border had triggered fears of a terrorist attack on the day before Thanksgiving. Hochul tamped down those suspicions, saying, "we're not aware of any threats to this area."

“I want to be very, very clear to Americans and New Yorkers: At this time there is no indication of a terrorist attack,” Hochul said in a 10-minute briefing at a state park building a few miles from the crash site.

“This is one of the busiest crossings not just in Western New York but along the entire U.S.-Canadian border — and it happened on the busiest travel day of the year. Naturally at a time of heightened alert, everyone sprang into action.”

The crash took place in Niagara Falls, a city of 50,000 just north of Buffalo. Photos and video taken by news organizations and posted on social media showed a security booth that had been singed by flames.

The initial reports of an explosion had put authorities on high alert. Earlier in the day, Hochul directed the State Police to work with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry to New York. The Rainbow Bridge and three others that connect the U.S. and Canada in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area were all shut down.

Are border crossings between U.S. and Canada reopened?

Those precautions ended hours later with the realization that the explosion was the result of a high-speed car crash, not an act of terrorism. By the time Hochul started her press conference, authorities had reopened the Peace Bridge, the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and the Whirlpool Bridge.

Hochul said the Rainbow Bridge remained closed as police continued investigating a large crash scene with far-flung vehicle parts.

"We're going to make sure the public is safe before they go back on the Rainbow Bridge," she said.

Hochul debunked earlier reports that international flights had suspended at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, saying that no service had halted there. But she said Amtrak had suspended cross-border train service between the U.S. and Canada.

Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@gannett.com.

Kayla Canne reports on community justice and safety efforts for the Democrat and Chronicle. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com or on Twitter @kaylacanne.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rainbow Bridge still closed after crash, but 'no terrorist activity'