Authorities patrol US-Canada crossing after car blast

A car erupted into a fireball at a US-Canada checkpoint near Niagara Falls on Wednesday, killing the two occupants, triggering border closures and sparking a massive security alert on the eve of a major holiday.

The regional FBI field office concluded the blast, which occurred around 400 miles northwest of New York City, was not linked to terrorism.Witnesses described seeing a car traveling at high speed before it crashed into a checkpoint barrier and exploded into flames.

The blast happened at the major Rainbow Bridge crossing near Niagara Falls with nothing left of the vehicle which was incinerated except for the engine, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Authorities on both sides of the border activated emergency responses and images showed access roads to the crossing swarming with emergency service workers and vehicles.