Police are investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Police said Wednesday that after the Cybertruck stopped near the hotel’s front glass door, the vehicle began smoking and exploded.
Police said the driver was killed and seven people were injured, without naming those involved. Officials said all injuries were minor.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a post on
The fire broke out around 0840 PT (1540 GMT) on New Year’s Day, just hours after a man drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, Louisiana, killing 15 people.
Police have not yet confirmed whether the Las Vegas incident was caused by a bomb or fireworks, but two sources familiar with the investigation told the BBC’s US partner CBS News that investigators were working to determine whether fireworks were the cause.
“The authorities are well aware of this,” said Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Police Department. what happened in new orleans” refers to an attack involving an improvised explosive device discovered near the Louisiana site.
“As you can imagine, with the explosion occurring here on iconic Las Vegas Boulevard, we are taking every precaution we need to take to keep our community safe,” he said at a news conference.
“Obviously there are a lot of questions that need to be answered as we move forward, including the Cybertruck and the Trump hotel,” he added.
The two incidents are not connected. Mr. McMahill said there is no longer a threat to the Las Vegas community.
ReutersA fire department official said, “Emergency crews quickly began extinguishing the vehicle fire.”
They added that the public was asked to stay away from the area and that the hotel had been evacuated and most guests had moved to other locations.
The hotel is partly owned by President-elect Donald Trump’s company. Trump’s son, Eric Trump, wrote in a post on
“The safety and well-being of our guests and employees is our top priority, and we are truly grateful to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their quick response and professionalism,” he said.
The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incident and his administration had provided all necessary federal assistance.
Video of the incident circulating on social media shows the Cybertruck in front of the Trump Hotel being engulfed in flames.
Stephen Ferrando told The Washington Post that he witnessed the incident from his hotel room on the 53rd floor of Trump Tower. He said there was “apparently an explosion” in the outlet and the windows began shaking.
The Trump Hotel features approximately 1,300 suites spread over 64 floors, according to its website.
Trump recently appointed Musk as co-director of the Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory board to the president with whom Trump became friendly during the campaign.
