By A Tesla Cybertruck exploded Wednesday morning near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in one fatality and seven reported injuries, according to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill. The FBI is actively involved in the investigation, with authorities still securing the scene and gathering evidence.
The explosion happened around 8:40 AM PT when a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck pulled up to the hotel’s lobby entrance. Witnesses reported seeing smoke coming from the vehicle moments before a massive explosion shook the area. Sheriff McMahill noted that firefighters arrived within four minutes and managed to extinguish the flames within an hour.
ABC News writes that the driver pulled into the valet area of the hotel and the vehicle exploded, according to an official. The driver is apparently dead and, so far, the only casualty from the incident. Seven bystanders had minor injuries, authorities said.
Investigators do not know what caused the blast, such as whether something was wrong with the vehicle or whether something external prompted it. Determining what was behind the explosion is the key focus of the probe.
An official briefed on the probe told ABC News that the Tesla Cybertruck had a load of fireworks-style mortars onboard. Investigators are urgently working to determine a motive and whether the driver intended to set off an explosion and why.
Until a motive is determined and other possibilities are ruled out, police are treating the explosion like a possible criminal act and a possible act of terror. Evidence collection and investigation are ongoing.
Videos circulating online show the Cybertruck fully engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. Eyewitnesses described the blast as so intense that it rattled windows on the upper floors of the hotel. One witness mentioned seeing the truck lower itself, similar to an air suspension adjustment, just before the explosion.
A Tesla Cybertruck has exploded outside of the Trump Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, resulting in the Death of the Driver and Injuries to at least 7 Bystanders, the Lobby of the Hotel suffered only Minor Damage. Police are investigating the Incident, to determine if it was caused… pic.twitter.com/RScGu7qVl4
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 1, 2025
This incident follows closely behind a deadly vehicle attack in New Orleans, where a driver intentionally drove into a crowd in the French Quarter. In response, Las Vegas authorities are exercising extreme caution, having evacuated the Trump Hotel and conducted thorough searches for any secondary threats. Sheriff McMahill reassured the public by stating, “We believe everything is safe now,” according to The Verge.
Eric Trump, representing the Trump Organization, expressed gratitude to first responders in an official statement:
“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 released a statement on Twitter saying that the company is investigating what happened and has never seen anything like it happening before in the Cybertruck.
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. https://t.co/MpmICGvLXf
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025
This event comes amid heightened media scrutiny of Musk’s recent interactions with Trump, including alleged visits to Mar-a-Lago and meetings with high-profile figures like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The explosion follows a week of Democrats floating conspiracy theories that Elon Musk is actually president.
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