Following Rainbow Bridge crash, Niagara police chief warns about spread of misinformation
CBCOct 11, 2023
Rainbow Bridge Crash Victims Identified as Grand Island Couple
The Facts
Niagara Falls Police have identified the two victims who died in the Rainbow Bridge crash at the US-Canada border on Wednesday as Grand Island couple Kurt and Monica Villani, both 53.
Kurt was reportedly driving his 2022 Bentley Flying Spur to a concert in Toronto when it hit a median, went airborne, and burst into flames.
The Spin
Narrative A
The rampant spread of misinformation following the explosion illustrates a broader problem related to the vast proliferation of fake news and conspiracy theories in today's world. Within hours of the crash, false reports and speculation had made their way around the world, even reaching politicians and "reputable" news sources. Hopefully, this will serve as a lesson for those who spread "news" before it's confirmed.
Narrative B
While we shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, it wasn't unthinkable that the shocking crash at the US-Canada border could have been an attempted terror attack. The world has become increasingly unsafe in recent months, and global tensions are boiling. Cars don't just explode, and sane people don't speed into border barriers. Regardless, border security and anti-terror measures are desperately needed to keep America safe.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that at least 24K deaths will be caused by terrorism globally in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.