One person is dead and 37 others are reported injured after a female driver drove her vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians on Las Vegas Boulevard, near the Miss Universe Pageant.
Daily Record reports:
Police spokesman Lieutenant Peter Boffelli said the car was travelling north on Las Vegas Boulevard, near Bellagio Way, when it went on to the pavement in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino and struck pedestrians.
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Eyewitnesses said the car mounted the pavement several times.
Las Vegas authorities said between 26 to 36 people were injured and said six who were in critical condition had been stabilised.
University Medical Center treated 15 patients, with three listed as critical, two discharged and the rest in serious condition.
An 11-year-old was among the injured, along with visitors from Montreal, Canada.
Justin Cochrane, a tourist who was having dinner near the scene, said the vehicle with a cracked windshield drove past him at about 30mph before the driver swerved to avoid a truck, then accelerated back onto the pavement.
He said: “It was mayhem, and it was very intentional.
“People were flying. This child I saw hit, and the sound, I’ll never forget.”
Mr Boffelli said: “This is a huge tragedy that has happened on our Strip.”
The Miss Universe pageant was being held nearby at the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino at the time.
Clark County fire chief Greg Cassell said the call for help came in at 2.38am UK time and 70 emergency crew members rushed to the scene.
Officers speaking to reporters at the scene said they were investigating the incident as an “intentional” act.
Las Vegas police officer Jesse Roybal said the incident did not appear to be a terrorist act.
The woman driver, who is in her 20s, left the scene but was later taken into custody and was being interviewed and tested for alcohol and controlled substances, police said.
Danita Cohen a spokeswoman for University Medical Centre in Las Vegas, said crash victims were brought to its trauma centre.
A toddler aged 3 was in the back of the car, although they were unharmed.
