by Family of Bentley Crash Victims Files Lawsuit
Two years after a fatal accident involving a Bentley Flying Spur on the Rainbow Bridge between the US and Canada, which attracted worldwide attention, the family of the deceased couple has filed a lawsuit against the car manufacturer.
The lawsuit claims that the luxury sedan had a technical defect that caused uncontrolled acceleration towards the customs checkpoint.
The accident, captured on surveillance cameras, was so severe that it caused the temporary closure of one of the busiest border crossings in North America.
Fatal Acceleration
According to the 33-page lawsuit filed by the family of Kurt and Monica Villani, the Bentley’s electronic throttle control system failed without warning.
This, in their opinion, caused sudden acceleration, which made the car veer off its trajectory, hit a curb, fly several hundred feet through the air, and crash into a border booth before bursting into flames.
The lawsuit also states that the vehicle either lacked a functioning brake override system or the system failed to activate, leading to “catastrophic consequences.”
Previous Recalls and Legal Consequences
Two years before the accident, Bentley 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, a similar recall for vehicles sold in the United States was not issued, which the Villani family’s attorneys emphasize as a key point in their claims.
The couple was planning to attend a concert in Toronto and had stopped at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls shortly before the accident to exchange currency. At 11:22 a.m., Kurt Villani was driving the Flying Spur towards the Rainbow Bridge border crossing when the car suddenly accelerated.
The lawsuit names Bentley Motors, Volkswagen, and two dealerships, Suburban Exotic Motorcars from Michigan and Troy Exotics, as defendants. The family is seeking compensatory damages, accusing the automaker and its partners of “negligent, irresponsible, and careless conduct.”
The accident and explosion were so serious that they immediately raised concerns among law enforcement agencies, which initially considered the incident a possible act of terrorism before recognizing it as a tragic accident.
Surveillance footage shows the car exploding at the Rainbow Bridge customs checkpoint in Niagara Falls on the border between Canada and the United States after the vehicle, as seen, hit a curb and became airborne; the incident was initially considered…
This case could have significant implications for automakers regarding safety standards and transparency in handling recalls, especially when it comes to regional differences. The incident also highlights the importance of unified international safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
