As investigators are quickly working to determine what exactly occurred leading up to a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the United States and Canada, and as surveillance videos and witness videos are reviewed more information is becoming available about the moments before the explosion.
While initial reports were that the vehicle came from Canada into the United States, some witnesses say that it came from the U.S. side, leaving a 7-Eleven a few blocks from the bridge then speeding down Niagara Street on the wrong side of the road before slamming into CBP's secondary checkpoint.
Fox News reports the vehicle that exploded at the Rainbow Bridge Crossing exited the 7-11 onto Niagara St. and accelerated down the wrong lane of traffic and slammed into the secondary check area at CBP checkpoint. pic.twitter.com/zfhZQZNyrS
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) November 22, 2023
The Google Maps birds-eye view shows more of the scene.
Videos reviewed by authorities of the scene at the Rainbow Bridge show the vehicle entering the bridge and then accelerating at a high rate of speed, according to multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.
At one point during the acceleration, the vehicle hit a curb and went airborne over a barrier, landing in the secondary search area, where it exploded, they said.
Sources tell CNN that the vehicle that exploded did not reach the first checkpoint for referral.
Video seems to show this:
Video shown on air by NBC News shows a car going airborne after traveling at an extremely high speed on the US side of the Rainbow Bridge border crossing. @lookner pic.twitter.com/4UfGwrgvzx
— Braxton Banks (@BraxBanksOKWX) November 22, 2023
Rickie Wilson, a witness who has already been interviewed by the FBI, says that he watched the car speed up, become airborne, and crash.
Rickie Wilson describes what he saw at #rainbowbridge #niagarafalls pic.twitter.com/7ynuEoXTTw
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) November 22, 2023
Fox's Alexis McAdams is now reporting that the car could have been stolen, and that the massive explosion could have been caused by the gas tank in the vehicle and not necessarily explosive devices; undoubtedly, law enforcement officials will eventually determine the answers to those questions.
Update (5:45 PM Eastern) - An additional surveillance video shows the car speeding then airborne.
#BREAKING: New video shows the moment a white vehicle went airborne and crashed at the Rainbow Bridge Crossing checkpoint near Niagara Falls m pic.twitter.com/59nlTC8hXn
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) November 22, 2023
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