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Fact-Checking Niagara Falls Bridge Crossing Crash Misinformation

Angry Bear | November 24, 2023 4:07 pm

Law

Politics

Much of this information is taken from HuffPost, my experiences traveling from Michigan to Upstate New York monthly, and crossing back and forth into and out of Canada at the Niagara Falls Bridge Crossing.

It is hard to misbehave on the Rainbow Bridge crossing going from Niagara NY to Niagara Ontario or vice versa. There is usually traffic and it is closely monitored. What was an innocent trip changed after 911. Surveillance was stricter as were the border officials in their booths.

My home was in Livingston County Michigan and my job was in Cazenovia, NY. To keep working, I stayed in New York for three weeks. I would make a trip once a month to home and and work in the Michigan office. I used the Rainbow Bridge Crossing when I took the Canadian route. It added too much time waiting in line. I reverted to the US route in my manual transmission Saturn Ion.

Surprising NYT read today about a couple in a 2022 Bentley Flying Spur, which can reach 60 miles per hour in four seconds, crashing on the Rainbow Bridge. The couple who died were business owners from a town near Niagara Falls, N.Y. Not sure how a wealthy couple would do this on the Rainbow Bridge and in a Bentley too.

I did not expect the BS to come out on this reported tragic accident or mistake. It did though as it was picked up by various news media outlets. Why? Because the politicians made it more than what it was. Just add the word “terrorists” to the story. Border security and illegal aliens come into play as brought to you by Republican politicians.

Sen. Ted Cruz’s (Republican-Texas) tweet: “the explosion at Rainbow Bridge was a terrorist attack.” His tweet still remains on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Friday morning.

This confirms our worst fear: the explosion at Rainbow Bridge was a terrorist attack.

Both attackers are dead, and one law enforcement officer is injured.

I am praying that officer makes a full recovery and is able to spend Thanksgiving surrounded by family and loved ones.

Thank you to our law enforcement officers who are remaining vigilant and working to protect Americans traveling for Thanksgiving.

A wealthy couple were heading to the Falls casino to gamble after a “Kiss” concert was canceled.

Kari Lake, the Arizona MAGA star running for the U.S. Senate . . .

There might have been an attempted terror attack, and “if so, our worst fears are being realized,” accusing President Joe Biden of “inviting this kind of chaos into our country.”

“It was only a matter of time before bad people took him up on his offer,”

Another Arizona make-believe Congressional Representative Andy Biggs commenting . . . what a surprise!

Praying for our CBP officials and first responders.

Our borders are under attack and the Biden Administration continues to sit on its hands.

It’s long past time to put Americans first. https://t.co/0V8NAhUC9h — Rep Andy Biggs

I pray they all would shut up.

Representative Eric Swalwell Fact-Checks Republicans Over Bridge Crash Misinformation,” HuffPost,
Josephine Harvey

7 Comments

Fred C. Dobbs says:

November 24, 2023 at 5:21 pm

Bentley in Border Bridge Crash Was a Luxury Car Packed With Power

NY Times – just in

The car that exploded this week at a border bridge in Niagara Falls, N.Y., was a 2022 Bentley Flying Spur, the authorities said on Friday, an ultraluxury model capable of reaching a speed of 60 miles per hour in four seconds …

… A Flying Spur like this .. can reach speeds as fast as 175 miles per hour in seconds. …

… The base model Flying Spur (is) powered by an eight-cylinder engine generating 542 horsepower and (weighs) 5,137 pounds, according to specifications from Edmunds, which provides data about automobiles for consumers. Used models cost more than $200,000, and Car and Driver magazine said that “the Flying Spur’s unbeatable blend of luxury and performance comes with an eye-watering six-figure price tag.”

Speculation had been percolating online about the car’s make and model since the incident occurred just before noon on Wednesday, and investigators were exploring whether a mechanical problem had caused the car to accelerate out of control. The vehicle was shown on video moving toward the bridge at a shocking speed before striking a median and taking flight. It burst into flames on impact and shattered, strewing metal over a wide debris field. …

… the incident was (was said to be unrelated to) a recall in 2021 of some models over a risk that their accelerator pedals could become stuck. … there had been no such problem on left-hand drive cars — the kind sold in the United States and Canada. …

(I’ve seen such a car on the road near my home. A local Toyota dealer used to park his at the entrance to his dealership for all to see, maybe it was his. They are lovely cars.Better than a Ford F-150 any day.)
- Ten Bears says:
  
  November 25, 2023 at 4:36 am
  
  Mia culpa ~ I didn’t consider it might be mechanical
Fred C. Dobbs says:

November 24, 2023 at 5:34 pm

(Something else for Ted Cruz to lose sleep over…)

Growing Numbers of Chinese Migrants Are Crossing the Southern Border

NY Times – 3 hours ago

More than 24,000 Chinese citizens have been apprehended crossing into the United States from Mexico in the past year. That is more than in the preceding 10 years combined.

The surge of migrants entering the United States across the southern border increasingly includes people from a surprising place: China.

Despite the distances involved and the difficulties of the journey, more than 24,000 Chinese citizens have been apprehended crossing into the United States from Mexico in the past year. That is more than in the preceding 10 years combined, according to government data.

They typically fly into Ecuador, where they do not need a visa. Then, like hundreds of thousands of other migrants from Central and South America and more distant locations, they pay smugglers to guide their travel through the dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama en route to the United States. Once there, they turn themselves in to border officials and many seek asylum.

And most succeed, in turn fueling further attempts. Chinese citizens are more successful than people from other countries with their asylum claims in immigration court. And those who are not end up staying anyway because China usually will not take them back. …
Eric377 says:

November 25, 2023 at 6:50 am

It’ll be interesting to hear from trailing traffic if brake lights were seen. Could be operator error. In a panic over something, driver slams brakes, but gets confused on which pedal. We’ve pretty much have all done it for a quarter-second sometime or other. Not saying everyone gets altered to go to a KISS concert, but some probably do.
- Bill Haskell says:
  
  November 25, 2023 at 10:41 am
  
  Eric:
  
  Apparently, the speed issue was experienced before in this brand and model. A better question might be, why the need of such speed and power for human transportation? A waste of materials, energy, and human life. A sure keying job once parked in a public lot too. They were on their way to gamble since the concert was supposedly canceled.
- JaneE says:
  
  November 25, 2023 at 5:27 pm
  
  It could be mechanical or garden variety unintended acceleration. Neither would require any mind alteration. Unintended acceleration in a car that can accelerate that quickly could be all the explanation needed, especially if the car was relatively new to them.
coberly says:

November 26, 2023 at 5:58 pm

I take the Great Gatsby point of view.

What terrifies me is the Republicans’ comments.