Officials previously said they believed the victim, a 69-year-old woman from Williamsville, intentionally drove her car into the water in a suicide attempt. Her name has not been released. Although the woman was alive when she entered the water, officials believed she died before Coast Guard divers could get to her.

In December 2021, a high-profile and tragic incident occurred where a woman in her 60s drove her car into the Niagara River, just yards from the brink of the American Falls. New York State Park Police concluded that the entry into the water appeared to be an intentional act. The vehicle became lodged in the rushing rapids, and a dramatic rescue attempt was launched involving a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a rescue swimmer who braved freezing spray and high winds to reach the car. Unfortunately, the woman did not survive the ordeal. While the specific personal motivations were not publicly detailed out of respect for her family, the event served as a somber reminder of the dangers posed by the river's powerful currents. This incident led to increased security discussions regarding the barriers near the pedestrian bridges where the car entered the water. In 2026, witnesses still recall the harrowing sight of the car's trunk and roof sticking out of the white water, a rare and chilling sight at one of the world's most famous natural landmarks.