TheMalcontent

United States-Canada Flash Report 22NOV23 15:30 PST - Car Explosion at New York Border Checkpoint Update

Added 2023-11-22 23:38:37 +0000 UTC

Surveillance video has provided a lot more information about the incident. A white car was traveling westbound on Niagara Street in Niagara Falls in the direction of the United States border checkpoint between 90 to 120 MPH (140 to 190 kph). As it crosses the last intersection (Rainbow Blvd.), it is traveling the wrong way in the exit direction for vehicles traveling from Canada to the United States. The car strikes a concrete divider between the U.S.-bound and Canada-bound lanes, becomes airborne, clears an 8-foot high fence (roughly 2.5 meters), and strikes the secondary security screening area 280 feet (85 meters) from the concrete divider.

Confusion on the original direction of travel was caused by the explosion occurring on the Canadian to the U.S. side of the crossing.

There were two people in the car, and both were killed. One DHS employee was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was released.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters that preliminary information does not indicate this was a terrorist attack. Canada and the United States have reopened three other western New York border crossings, that were closed after the incident. Based on preliminary information there were no explosives found in the wreckage.

The investigation is ongoing.