LAS VEGAS: A tragic explosion outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Wednesday morning claimed one life and injured seven others. The incident involved a Tesla CyberTruck reportedly carrying fireworks that erupted in flames and exploded, authorities said.
The blast occurred around 8:40 a.m. in the hotel’s valet area, according to officials from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department. The futuristic pickup truck, rented via the car-sharing app Turo, had one person inside who did not survive. Seven nearby individuals suffered minor injuries, with several transported to local hospitals.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that the explosion stemmed from “very large fireworks and/or a bomb” carried in the truck’s bed, ruling out any fault with the vehicle itself. Musk added that Tesla’s senior team is deeply involved in the ongoing investigation.
Officials have not ruled out terrorism, though they emphasized that the investigation is still in its early stages. “We understand the public has many questions, but we are working diligently to uncover the facts,” said Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas office.
The explosion comes on the heels of a separate deadly incident in New Orleans, where a truck driver killed 15 people after plowing into a crowd on New Year’s Day, an act authorities are treating as a terrorist attack.
Eric Trump, son of President-elect Donald Trump, expressed gratitude on social media for the swift response by first responders.
The 64-story Trump hotel, situated just off the Las Vegas Strip, remained under heightened security following the blast. Investigators continue to work around the clock to determine the motive and full details behind the explosion.
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