Car Explosion - Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls

[branmuffin]

The couple had been in their $300,000 Bentley at the time and had told friends there was a problem with the accelerator in the weeks before the accident. Bentley is yet to comment on the tragedy.

Bentley driver was 'alert and not impaired' in Niagara Falls crash

Vincent A. Ettari, a civil engineer, told The New York Times that he believes Kurt Villani was frantically touching the brakes of his car as it exploded on Wednesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The ground was wet since it had been raining. Any vehicle going that fast is going to put up a rooster tail of water. I don't see a dark vapor trail, just water mixed with road debris and oil.

 

[dotr]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/rainbow-bridge-bentley-1.7063757

Samantha Beattie · CBC News · Posted: Dec 19, 2023
''As the investigation continues into what caused a car to crash at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing last month, American police say they're seeking a subpoena to compel car manufacturer Bentley Motors to release records.

''Married couple Kurt P. Villani and Monica Villani, both 53, of Grand Island, N.Y., were killed in the collision on the bridge that connects Niagara Falls, N.Y. with Ontario on Nov. 22.''

Bentley Motors has provided police with documentation about past vehicle recalls and general information about the black box, Faso said. However, he said, the company has refused to release personal information or records about the Villanis' particular vehicle without subpoenas.

Officers are working with the district attorney's office to secure those subpoenas, said Faso.

Bentley spokesperson Erin Bronner told CBC Hamilton the company hasn't refused to provide the information.''

 

[Countem]

Mystery deepens into crash at Canadian border that killed US couple

Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53, were incinerated in the huge fireball at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls on November 22 while on their way to a KISS rock concert.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The case 'is considered closed at this point, but can be reopened if any new evidence comes to light', Niagara Falls Mayor RR told The Buffalo News.

RR said investigators were hampered by the fact that the car's event data recorder, or black box, was destroyed in the crash.

He said no one may ever know what caused the crash unless insurers discover it.

Also unknown are whether the black box sent any information about the sudden acceleration to Bentley, or if the car maker's own investigation found anything.

 

[al66pine]

Did the Accelerator 'Stick', i.e. Malfunction, Causing Crash?

From DM's July 25 story* posted by @Countem TYVM :

"The 2022 Flying Spur can go from zero to 60mph in four seconds and sells for $204,500 to $309,000 new..."
"The couple told friends there was a problem with the accelerator in the weeks before the crash."

MANUF. RECALLED Flying Spur models btwn. 2018 - 2021, issued in 2021 because accelerators were becoming stuck, sparking safety fears.
In recall notice, co. cited a manufacturing flaw that caused accelerators to get stuck while engaged:

"'Due to inconsistent fitment of the fuse box and the electrical harness the A-post lower trim can protrude into the cabin reducing clearance to the accelerator pedal."
" 'If the accelerator pedal is fully pressed whilst driving and is unable to return to its resting position, the vehicle will continue to accelerate, even when the driver's foot is removed from the accelerator pedal.' "

Seems CAUSE of crash could have been that manuf.'ing FLAW.

If so, would manuf flaw also explain huge EXPLOSION?
Did the vehicle contain containers of ACCELERANT, e.g gasoline, which may have exacerbated the explosion?
I don't recall any info about that. @count'em ? Anyone?

___________________________

Mystery deepens into crash at Canadian border that killed US couple

Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53, were incinerated in the huge fireball at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls on November 22 while on their way to a KISS rock concert.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[al66pine]

Gr'Mother Died Being Flung from a Boat on Niagara River at 3am.

"In July 1978, Villani's grandmother, Lorraine, was also killed in a horror crash when she was flung from a boat...Kurt and Gail Villani were also on board at the time but were unharmed."
"The boat struck a bridge while Lorraine Villani was at the helm. The family later successfully sued the company that built the bridge, after it was found to not have been properly illuminated, for $120,000 in 1984."

"Online records show that the Villani family owns a range of properties in the Grand Island-area."

Two UNUSUAL EVENTS separated by ~ 45 yrs. caused 3 deaths in this family.

Seems HIGHLY unusual imo. Would like to know more about the lawsuit.


________________________
Thx agn for the link, @Countem.

Mystery deepens into crash at Canadian border that killed US couple

Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53, were incinerated in the huge fireball at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls on November 22 while on their way to a KISS rock concert.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out the accelerator stuck in my opinion.
Unfortunately all the evidence was obliterated in the crash and explosion.
I suspect Bentley knows.

Opinion only

 

[al66pine]

Manuf'r Recall for Flying Spur Accelerator. Villani's. Repaired or Not?

I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out the accelerator stuck in my opinion.
Unfortunately all the evidence was obliterated in the crash and explosion.
I suspect Bentley knows.
Opinion only

@StarryStarryNight Thx for your post. Yes, a stuck accelerator pedal seems a likely cause, esp'ly in light of the manu'r recall. But I don't recall if MSM, Bentley, or LE made a public stmt about whether the Villanis had brought vehicle in for the repair.

Had the recall REPAIR been DONE on the Villani's Flying Spur? If so, then presumably less likely that the accelerator pedal malfunction caused crash & explosion.

IIRC, getting this repair done was not just a zip across town. Per Bentley website, there are only ~ 45 B. locations for B. service. Seems a Grand Island, NY (Buffalo area) resident taking vehicle in for manuf'r recall repair would have a couple hundred mile drive to an authorized service location, for ex. ~ 220 mi. to Pittsburgh or nearly 350 mi. to Parsippany, NJ, or 350 plus mi. to a NYC area service location, or perhaps a closer one that I missed. Or maybe Bentley would authorize a Grand Island/Buffalo shade tree mechanic to make repair for local resident-owner. IDK.

If recall repair was NOT DONE, then seems other cause is more likely.

IDK who would ignore a manuf’r recall for an accelerator pedal that may malfunction. OTOH IDK who would buy a car for which closest authorized service location is 200+ miles away. Someone w vehicles to spare, could still get around, or use Uber, and could have a commercial hauler stow Flying Spur in enclosed trailer & take to service location, wait, then return it to owner???

(Note to self, do not buy a Bentley. )
_________________________________________
*Locator for Bentley dealers & service.

Bentley Dealers | Dealership Locator│Bentley Motors

Find out where to purchase a new or pre-owned Bentley or where to to get your Bentley serviced with our Bentley Dealership locator.

www.bentleymotors.com

 

[ch_13]

Manuf'r Recall for Flying Spur Accelerator. Villani's. Repaired or Not?

@StarryStarryNight Thx for your post. Yes, a stuck accelerator pedal seems a likely cause, esp'ly in light of the manu'r recall. But I don't recall if MSM, Bentley, or LE made a public stmt about whether the Villanis had brought vehicle in for the repair.

Had the recall REPAIR been DONE on the Villani's Flying Spur? If so, then presumably less likely that the accelerator pedal malfunction caused crash & explosion.

IIRC, getting this repair done was not just a zip across town. Per Bentley website, there are only ~ 45 B. locations for B. service. Seems a Grand Island, NY (Buffalo area) resident taking vehicle in for manuf'r recall repair would have a couple hundred mile drive to an authorized service location, for ex. ~ 220 mi. to Pittsburgh or nearly 350 mi. to Parsippany, NJ, or 350 plus mi. to a NYC area service location, or perhaps a closer one that I missed. Or maybe Bentley would authorize a Grand Island/Buffalo shade tree mechanic to make repair for local resident-owner. IDK.

If recall repair was NOT DONE, then seems other cause is more likely.

IDK who would ignore a manuf’r recall for an accelerator pedal that may malfunction. OTOH IDK who would buy a car for which closest authorized service location is 200+ miles away. Someone w vehicles to spare, could still get around, or use Uber, and could have a commercial hauler stow Flying Spur in enclosed trailer & take to service location, wait, then return it to owner???

(Note to self, do not buy a Bentley. )
_________________________________________
*Locator for Bentley dealers & service.

Bentley Dealers | Dealership Locator│Bentley Motors

Find out where to purchase a new or pre-owned Bentley or where to to get your Bentley serviced with our Bentley Dealership locator.

www.bentleymotors.com

The recall only applied to right-hand drive cars.

A Bentley spokesperson told The New York Times the recall did not apply to the Mr. Villani's vehicle, since it was only relevant to right-hand cars issued in Europe and Australia.

Bentley recalled cars in 2021 because accelerators were getting stuck

The car maker issued the recall in the summer of 2021 for Continental GT and Flying Spur models built between 2018 and 2021.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[al66pine]

No Recall for This Vehicle.

The recall only applied to right-hand drive cars.

A Bentley spokesperson told The New York Times the recall did not apply to the Mr. Villani's vehicle, since it was only relevant to right-hand cars issued in Europe and Australia.

Bentley recalled cars in 2021 because accelerators were getting stuck

The car maker issued the recall in the summer of 2021 for Continental GT and Flying Spur models built between 2018 and 2021.

www.dailymail.co.uk

@ch_13 Thank you very much for your post.

In light of manuf's recall not being applicable to Villani's Flying Spur, seems the accelerator-pedal-sticking theory MAY be less likely to have been the cause of crash.

Any thoughts on other possible causes, like possible foul play or possible driver's intentional harm to self (w other)?

Regardless, what a horror. Two lives lost but remarkable that no others were.
imo