Family Sues Bentley And VW Over Crash That Shocked The US-Canada Border

Two years after a couple was killed in a devastating crash with their 2022 Bentley Flying Spur at the Rainbow Bridge crossing between the US and Canada, drawing global attention, the family of the couple has filed a lawsuit against the car manufacturer.

The filing alleges that the luxury sedan malfunctioned, propelling itself into an uncontrollable acceleration toward a customs booth.

More: Car That Ploughed Into US-Canada Border Bridge Was A Bentley Owned By New York Man

The crash, caught on surveillance footage, was so violent that it forced the temporary closure of one of North America’s busiest border crossings.

The Fatal Surge

According to the 33-page complaint filed by the family of Kurt and Monica Villani, the Bentley’s electronic throttle control system failed without warning.

This, they allege, caused a sudden burst of acceleration that sent the car off course, striking a curb, soaring several hundred feet through the air, and slamming into a border security booth before erupting in flames.

The lawsuit also states that the vehicle either lacked a functioning brake override system or that the system failed to engage, resulting in what the filing describes as “catastrophic consequences.”

Two years before the crash, Bentley had issued a recall in Europe and Australia for 2018–2021 Flying Spur models due to accelerator pedals that could stick and cause unintended acceleration. However, no equivalent recall was issued for cars sold in the United States, a point the Villani family’s attorneys have emphasized as central to their claim.

The couple had been planning to attend a concert in Toronto and, shortly before the crash, stopped at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls to exchange money. At 11:22 a.m., Kurt Villani was driving the Flying Spur towards the Rainbow Bridge border crossing before it suddenly accelerated.

The lawsuit names Bentley Motors, Volkswagen, and two dealerships, Suburban Exotic Motorcars of Michigan and Troy Exotics, as defendants. The family seeks compensatory damages, accusing the automaker and its partners of “negligent, reckless, and careless conduct.”

The crash and resulting explosion were so severe that they immediately drew concern from law enforcement officials, who at first treated the incident as a possible act of terrorism before determining it was a tragic accident.

Footage from CCTV Cameras showing the Explosion of a Car at “Rainbow Bridge” Custom’s Checkpoint in Niagara Falls on the Border between Canada and the United States after the Vehicle can be seen Striking a Curb and going Airborne; the Incident was initially believed to have… pic.twitter.com/OirbU4M8JY

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 22, 2023