Executive Summary
- A lawsuit has been filed against Bentley and Volkswagen in connection with the fatal November 2023 crash at the Rainbow Bridge.
- The complaint alleges negligence, claiming the 2022 Bentley Flying Spur involved in the crash had safety defects.
- The crash killed occupants Kurt and Monica Villani after their vehicle accelerated, went airborne, and struck a border inspection booth.
A lawsuit has been filed against Bentley and its parent company, Volkswagen, alleging negligence in connection with the fatal November 2023 crash at the Rainbow Bridge. The incident, which resulted in a fiery explosion, claimed the lives of Kurt and Monica Villani of Grand Island.
The couple was in their 2022 Bentley Flying Spur when the vehicle reportedly accelerated to a high speed, struck a median, and became airborne before crashing into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection booth. Both occupants were killed in the crash and subsequent fire.
Allegations of Vehicle Defects
According to the court filing, the lawsuit claims the vehicle was not adequately built or inspected for safety. The plaintiffs allege that defects in the vehicle were a contributing factor to the fatal incident. The vehicle’s data recorder was recovered from the wreckage, but authorities previously stated it was too severely damaged to yield useful information.
The crash initially prompted a major security alert, closing the Rainbow Bridge and three other border crossings between the United States and Canada amid fears of a terrorist attack. However, investigators from local and federal agencies quickly determined there were no signs of terrorism, and the case was reclassified as a traffic investigation handled by local police.