Updated 1:35 p.m.
The driver of the car has been identified as 24 year old Lakiesha Holloway of Portland, Oregon. Holloway has told officials that she was not under the influence of anything. According to public records she is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on charges varying from failure to remain at the scene of an accident to murder. The pedestrian who died at the scene has been identified as Jessica Valenzuela, 32, of Buckeye, Arizona who was on vacation with her husband.
According to TMZ, who has obtained a copy of the police report, the driver told of a “stressful period of time today where she was trying to rest/sleep inside her vehicle with her daughter.” The report further states “She would not explain why she drove on the sidewalk but remembered a body bouncing off of her windshield, breaking it.” Apparently, according to Holloway she was sober just tired after trying to park and sleep on multiple hotel parking lots and being ran off.
ORIGINAL STORY
We are all left wondering ‘why’ this morning as we wake to the news of the horrific car crash on the Las Vegas Strip last night. Police report 1 dead and almost 40 injured after a woman careened on and off the sidewalk last night mowing down anyone in her path. As if the situation wasn’t dangerous and scary enough it was discovered that she has a 3 year old toddler int he back seat the whole time.
Witness report people trying to stop the car as people bounced off of it and of people trying to punch out the car’s windows. One witness stated that the woman never appeared to even try to stop. She looked straight ahead with both hands on the wheel.
The incident started near the Planet Hollywood where the 2015 Ms. Universe Pageant was being held at approximately 8:45 est (6:45 pst) and ended outside the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. According to Deputy Police Chief Brett Zimmerman LVMPD has determined that this is not an act of terrorism and that it was an intentional act.
The driver fled the scene but was later arrested outside the Tuscany Suites not far away. The only information that has been revealed about the driver so far is that she is in her 20’s and was driving an Oldsmobile with Oregon plates.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police tweeted their sympathy with the following message: “If anyone is still in the area who witnessed the crash, please find an officer on the scene, we’d like to get a statement from you.”
Las Vegas Governor, Governor Sandoval tweeted that Nevada is ready to assist any visitor or resident.
There will be updates to this story as more information is released. Motive is on everyone’s mind. What would possess a woman to attack innocent pedestrians with a child in the car? It’s a tragedy that so many were injured but a miracle that there has only been one reported death so far.
