The Niagara Falls, New York Police Department has identified the man and woman who died in a dramatic and fiery crash near the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday.

The Bentley the couple were in was driving at an extremely high rate of speed when it appears to have hit a barrier, sending the vehicle airborne before crashing into the US Customs Area and bursting into flame at the high traffic border crossing.

Police say 53-year-old Kurt P Villani and his wife, 53-year-old Monica Villani of Grand Island New York, died at the scene.

The impact was so extreme, virtually nothing was left of the car.

The crash at the border crossing forced the closure of the bridge and the temporary closure of a number of other area crossings as a precautionary measure until the nature of the incident became clearer.

No further information is being released at this time.