Police name New York couple killed in fiery Rainbow Bridge car crash that shut borders with Canada

A married couplefrom Grand Island, N.Y., have been named by police as the driver and passenger in this week'sfiery crash on the American side of the Rainbow Bridge that shut border crossings and set Canadian and U.S. emergency officials into high gear.

Kurt P. Villani and Monica Villani, both 53, were in the vehicle, the City of Niagara Falls Police Department in New Yorksaid in a statement on Facebook on Friday morning.

Police have not confirmed who was driving the car at the time of the crash. They said they're still investigatingand the city extends its "sincere condolences to the families as they deal with this tragedy."

The VillanisownGui'sLumber, which CBC Hamilton reached Friday to confirm a statement from theirfamily.

The statement says, "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all that [have] extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing."

The incident was initially investigated as possible terrorism, but that was ruled out later Wednesday. It's now being treated as a traffic investigation.

WATCH | What's happening after Rainbow Bridge blast determined a traffic investigation:

Rainbow Bridge reopens after car explosion

11 months ago

Duration 2:02

The Rainbow Bridge border crossing at Niagara Falls has reopened one day after a car crashed in a fiery explosion and two people were killed on the American side. The FBI said they found no connection to terrorism or explosives in the car.

A security camera that captured the crash shows a car travelling from the U.S. at high speed towardthe Rainbow Bridge that connects Niagara Falls, N.Y. and Niagara Falls, Ont. The car is seen hitting an object and flyinginto the air before crashing to the ground and exploding in flames.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. ETand resulted in the closure of the Rainbow and three other nearby bridges that serve as border crossings between the U.S. and Canada. Three bridges reopened later Wednesday and the Rainbow reopened on Thursday, the American Thanksgiving.

FBI Buffalo found no explosive materials in the car

Multiple agenciesincluding the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wereinvolved in the aftermath of the explosion.

While some right-wing U.S. media initially reportedit was a terrorist attack, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters Wednesday evening"there is no sign of terrorist activity in this crash."

FBI Buffalo said it had found no explosive materials.

AU.S. businessman seeking the Republican presidential nominationused the incident, during anappearance on Fox News, to promote an aspect of his platform: Building a border wall with Canada.

"I have been sounding the alarm bell about the northern border for a long time," said Vivek Ramaswamy, despite the absence of any evidence pointing to terrorism.

In theHouse of Commonson Wednesday afternoon,Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre cited inaccurate news reports of a "terrorist attack" in a question toPrime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"It is the principal responsibility of the government to protect the people. Can the prime ministergive us an update on what he knows and what action plan he will immediately implement to bring home security for our people?"

Trudeau responded that the government was "taking this extraordinarily seriously," but there were "a lot of questions" about the incident.

Hochulpointed out that it would take some time to get "the real story" about what happened as the vehicle basically "incinerated" and nothing was left but the engine.