REPORT: Niagara Falls bridge crash victims owned Gui's Lumber & Home Center

The Niagara Falls Police Department identified Kurt P. Villani and Monica Villani, both 53, of Grand Island, New York as the victims of a car crash that took place at a border checkpoint.

The couple owned Gui’s Lumber-Ace Hardware, a full-service retail lumberyard and hardware store.

Altogether, the business consisted of seven Ace-branded retail locations serving the Niagra Falls, Buffalo, and Erie County regions of New York. 

The couple was killed on Nov. 22 when their 2022 Bentley Flying Spur sped through an intersection, hit a median, and became airborne before smashing into security booths at the Rainbow Bridge. Capable of hitting 60 miles per hour within 4 seconds, the vehicle exploded upon impact.

Gui’s Lumber-Ace Hardware was known for being a contributor to the community, including donating to the Girls and Boys Club and giving away turkeys before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The company was founded in 1986 by Villani’s father, Kurt M. Villani, who passed away in 2022.

The Niagara Falls Police Department issued a statement on Nov. 27 that named the victims. "The City of Niagara Falls would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families as they deal with this tragedy," the statement read.

During a press conference given the day of the accident, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul questioned whether the crash was AI-related given the make and technology of the vehicle involved.