Police identify victims of fiery crash at U.S.-Canada border

Police in Niagara Falls, N.Y., have identified the couple who died in a fiery, high-speed crash on the American side of the Rainbow Bridge border crossing Wednesday.

The Niagara Falls Police Department says 53-year-old Kurt Villani and his wife 53-year-old Monica Villani, both of Grand Island, N.Y., were the occupants of a vehicle that raced through an intersection, hit a median and went airborne before slamming into a U.S. customs kiosk and bursting into flames.

A customs official who was protected from the crash by a booth received minor injuries and was released from hospital.

WATCH MORE: Rainbow Bridge reopens Thursday evening after explosion at Canada-U.S. border

The crash resulted in the closure of all four border crossings that connect Ontario and western New York, as federal officials investigated the cause of the incident that triggered security concerns.

Later Wednesday night, investigators had found “no connection to any terrorist or criminal group,” as well as no evidence of chemicals or substances used in explosives.

The Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and Whirlpool Bridge checkpoints reopened several hours after the crash, while the Rainbow Bridge reopened Thursday evening.

The Niagara Falls Police Department’s crash management unit has taken over the investigation.

WATCH MORE: 2 people in vehicle that exploded at Canada-U.S. border are dead