Heartbroken friends of Rainbow Bridge victims Kurt and Monica Villani break silence after deaths in

Publish date: 2024-03-15

THE heartbroken friends of a married couple who died in a fiery high-speed crash into a US border booth on Wednesday have remembered them as kind and generous.

New Yorkers Kurt P. Villani, 53, and his wife, Monica Villani, 53, were identified by police on Friday as the victims of the terrifying crash that sparked an FBI terror squad probe earlier this week.

The wreck on New York's Rainbow Bridge leading to Canada took place at 11:27 am on Wednesday.

In a clip caught on a surveillance camera, a white car was spotted accelerating around a corner toward the border.

It became airborne before it crashed into the Customs and Border Patrol facility.

Debris from the car was flying through the air moments after the flames began.

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“This vehicle basically incinerated; there is nothing left but the engine,” Governor Kathy Hochul said.

Hochul initially explained that the FBI Terror Squad was called in to investigate the explosion on the bridge near Niagara Falls.

However, hours after the horrific wreck, it was revealed that there was "no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash."

'SHOCK AND DEVASTATION'

Members of the community could not believe this happened to the couple.

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"Not only were people talking, but then I made an announcement, and some people were just incredibly shocked. It's just not only a younger couple like that, but so ingrained and influential in this community," Scott Henderson, who was in the Niagara Sailing Club with the two victims, explained to the local NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV.

Chuck Meyer, who was a close friend and neighbor, described the moment he realized that his neighbors had died in the crash.

"I got home yesterday [Wednesday]. I didn't know anything other than hearing things on the news about the border, and then saw that their driveway was filled up with all these cars," he explained.

"I thought, 'Oh, they're having Christmas or Thanksgiving early, and like, that's really nice.' And then about an hour later, heard the news and I'm like, 'oh my God."

Mary Meyer cherished the friendship she developed with her neighbors.

"It's really shock and devastation and it's just gut-wrenching really, really. They were so loved," Meyer said.

"They were so generous and kind and always willing to help.

"You know, just plowing everybody's driveway for the love of it, you know what I mean? Just always willing to help and lend a hand. Always. always, always. They were just so very, kind wonderful people."

Chuck added: "Without ever being asked, they would just be giving and gifting, and that's the type of people we lost."

Outside of being kind neighbors, they were known for extending their generosity to organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Niagara Falls.

After a horrifying fire that damaged the Niagara Sailing Clubhouse, Henderson revealed that the couple's contribution led to the building getting completely repaired.

"Without those folks, we would have never, never been able to this extent rebuild this beautiful club," Henderson said.

As of now, police are investigating the exact cause of the crash that killed the couple.

'I NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE IT'

Prior to the crash, witnesses described seeing a vehicle speeding.

Rickie Wilson told The New York Times: “It hit a concrete barrier and went up.

“It came down and hit an inspection booth. Then there was a lot of black smoke, and then a fire. It looked like a bonfire.

“The car was in the air - and not three or four feet in the air. It was like something you see in Hollywood.”

While walking near the Rainbow Bridge, Mike Guenther and his wife saw the car swerve before hitting the fence.

"And then all of a sudden, he went up in the air and then it was a ball of fire like 30 or 40 feet high," Guenther told local NBC affiliate WGRZ.

"I never saw anything like it."

Guenther said the car was going so fast that it would have killed anyone in its way.

Paul Edwards of England, and Gloria Fiorito of Hamilton, Ontario, were returning to Canada at the time, after holiday shopping.

“We went on a little getaway for the night. We were looking for deals, which we found,” Fiorito told the Buffalo News.

“We were really looking forward to being home today.”

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Instead, the couple were stuck in the commotion that followed the crash and were unable to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

They had to stay in Niagra Falls for an extra night, due to the catastrophe.

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