A Tesla Cybertruck exploded and caught fire outside Trump Towers in Las Vegas on Wednesday, resulting in one fatality and seven individuals sustaining minor injuries, according to officials.
The explosion occurred in the early hours of the day, and authorities confirmed that the person inside the vehicle died in the incident. While the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed the death during a press conference. He also reported that seven other individuals were injured, but their injuries were not life-threatening.
“We are investigating a number of leads at the moment. There is one deceased individual in the Cybertruck, but the details on gender are still unclear,” McMahill said, adding that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. “As of now, there are no immediate details on the cause, but we are looking into all possibilities.”
The incident has garnered attention due to its proximity to Trump Towers, and the local police department is taking extra precautions in the wake of the tragedy. Sheriff McMahill acknowledged the deadly attack in New Orleans earlier this week, where a man intentionally drove a vehicle into a crowd, and assured the public that authorities are thoroughly investigating the explosion for any potential threats. “We are looking for secondary devices and taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our community,” he stated.
The explosion occurred in the porte cochère area of the Trump Las Vegas property, and Eric Trump, son of President-elect Donald Trump, shared details of the incident on social media, confirming that the electric vehicle fire happened in the vicinity.
As investigations continue, Tesla and local authorities have not yet provided further details on the origin of the fire, though the incident has raised concerns about the safety of electric vehicles in such situations.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has been in the public eye recently after becoming a close advisor to Trump, with discussions on reducing federal spending under the Department of Government Efficiency, a role he shares with Vivek Ramaswamy. However, there is no indication that Musk’s recent political involvement is connected to this tragic incident.
