Kurt Villani and his wife Monica Villani are named as the couple who died from the Rainbow Bridge explosion after crashing their Bentley. Details about their kids, profession, and fortune explored.
US-based couple Kurt and Monica Villani are named the victims of the Rainbow Bridge explosion.
The duo, who were heading to Canada to attend a Kiss concert, crashed their Bentley into the border booth near Rainbow Bridge, New York, and it burst into flames on Wednesday.
Witnesses compared the impact of the crash to a movie scene.
The demise lovers were parents of two and were entrepreneurs. Here’s everything we know about the duo; their work, net worth, family, kids, and more.
Who were Kurt and Monica Villani?
Both Kurt and Monica Villani were 53-year-old residents of Grand Island, New York.
What did Kurt Villani and Monica Villani do for a living? They owned and operated Gui’s Lumber, a tool and hardware chain native to the abovementioned area.
Their family business was founded by Kurt’s father in 1986.
Do Kurt Villani and Monica Villani have children? Kurt and Monica married in May 1995 and are survived by their two children; son Kurt Jr. and daughter Mia.
On November 22, 2023, the husband and wife lost their lives when their Bentley crashed and exploded at the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge.
The late Kurt and Monica are remembered by their neighbors for their contributions to their community.
“I didn’t know anything other than hearing things on the news about the border, and then saw that their driveway was filled up with all these cars,” the couple’s neighbor Chuck Meyer recalled.
He told WGRZ: ” I thought, ‘Oh, they’re having Christmas or Thanksgiving early, and like, that’s really nice.’
“And then about an hour later, heard the news and I’m like, oh my God.”
Their other neighbor Mary Meyer commented: “They were so loved.
“It’s really shock and devastation and it’s just gut-wrenching really, really.
“They were so generous and kind and always willing to help.
“Just always willing to help and lend a hand. Always, always, always. They were just so very, kind wonderful people.”
More of Kurt and Monica’s neighbors noted the amount of help they offered to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Sailing Clubhouse.
What happened to Kurt Villani and Monica Villani?
Two days after the Rainbow Bridge crash, police officially named Kurt and Monica the victims of the tragedy on Friday, November 24.
When they reached the New York checkpoint on the bridge, their Bentley hit a curb and a guardrail.
After the vehicle crashed into the guardrail, the car became airborne.
As the car flew threw the air, it became engulfed in flames.
The fiery crash concluded when the vehicle flew into a border booth.
Initially, police and the surrounding motorists thought the crash might’ve been related to a terrorist attack.
However, the speculation was debunked as more details were revealed about the tragedy.
What were Kurt Villani and Monica Villani’s net worth?
The US-based couple, Kurt Villani and Monica Villani, were entrepreneurs.
Living in Grand Island, New York, they worked as tool and hardware chain dealers.
As owners of Gui’s Lumber, the Rainbow Bridge crash victims are believed to have been worth an estimated net worth of between $1 million and $5 million.
The couple owned a Bentley, which could be one of their luxury cars.