LAS VEGAS: A Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fireworks exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning, leaving one person dead and seven others injured, according to the Associated Press.
The explosion occurred around 8:40 AM in the hotel’s valet area. The truck, reportedly rented via the car-sharing app Turo, was carrying fireworks, a law enforcement official disclosed anonymously. The victim, who was inside the vehicle at the time, died at the scene. Authorities are working to recover the body. Seven others sustained minor injuries, with some requiring hospitalization.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are investigating the incident’s cause, with terrorism not yet ruled out, according to an unnamed source familiar with the matter. FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz addressed the media, stating, “I know you have a lot of questions. We don’t have a lot of answers.” President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. We’ve never seen anything like this.”
Eyewitness Account and Emergency Response
Ana Bruce, a visitor from Brazil, described hearing three distinct explosions. “The first one started the fire. The second seemed to come from the battery or something similar. The third was massive—it filled the area with smoke and led to evacuations,” she recalled.
The explosion prompted swift action from emergency services. Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, commended the fire department and law enforcement on social media, praising their “swift response and professionalism.”
Context and Related Incidents
The Trump International Hotel, a 64-story tower near the Las Vegas Strip, was temporarily evacuated during the incident.
The explosion follows a separate tragic event on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, where a truck driver rammed into a crowd, killing at least ten people before being neutralized by police.
Authorities continue to investigate the Las Vegas explosion, emphasizing public safety as they work to determine the underlying cause of the incident.
