A tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday morning in Las Vegas when a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel, resulting in one death and injuries to seven others. Authorities, including the Las Vegas Police Department, are investigating the explosion as a potential act of terrorism.
The blast occurred near S. Sammy Davis Jr. Drive and Fashion Drive, with the fire reported at the hotel entrance. The Clark County Fire Department Deputy Chief, Thomas Touchstone, stated that emergency crews arrived at the scene within four minutes of receiving reports of a vehicle fire. Responders from Las Vegas police, fire departments, and rescue teams were quickly on-site, extinguishing the fire and attending to the injured.
Touchstone confirmed that seven individuals sustained minor injuries, two of whom were transported to a hospital for further treatment. Tragically, one person was found deceased inside the Cybertruck. Details about the deceased individual have not yet been disclosed.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Chief Kevin McMahill assured the public that the situation at the scene is now under control. He detailed that officers were dispatched to the area at 8:40 a.m. following reports of an explosion and fire. McMahill also highlighted a concerning connection to another incident in New Orleans earlier that day.
In New Orleans, a man driving a pickup truck, adorned with an ISIS flag on its trailer hitch, rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street. The attack resulted in the deaths of 10 people and injuries to dozens more. McMahill acknowledged the timing and nature of these incidents, noting that police are taking extra precautions, such as searching for potential secondary devices.
Jeremy Schwartz, the FBI’s acting special agent in charge, confirmed the death resulting from the Las Vegas explosion but admitted that many questions remain unanswered.
Eric Trump, son of President-elect Donald Trump, addressed the incident on social media platform X. He wrote, “Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas. The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also took to X to comment on the event. Initially, Musk stated, “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. Will post more information as soon as we learn anything. We’ve never seen anything like this.” Later, Musk clarified the cause of the explosion, saying, “We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”
Both the Cybertruck involved in the Las Vegas explosion and the truck used in the New Orleans attack were rented vehicles obtained through the peer-to-peer car rental platform, Turo. Fox News Digital has reached out to Turo for a statement but has not yet received a response.
Paul Mauro, a former New York City Police Department official and Fox News contributor, provided his perspective on the two events. “I cannot recall two terrorist events occurring on the same day that were not coordinated,” Mauro remarked. “While chances are that these two events are not related, it is something investigators have to consider.”
As authorities continue their investigations into the two tragic incidents, the connection, if any, between them remains a critical focus. The safety and security measures on Las Vegas Boulevard and other high-profile locations are being heightened to prevent further occurrences.