Tesla is always in the news for some reasons or the other. This time a Tesla Cybertruck exploded in Las Vegas. The incident took place outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, United States on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others.
According to Reuters, FBI has begun investigating whether the blast was an act of terrorism. Videos taken by witnesses inside and outside the hotel showed the vehicle exploding and flames pouring out of it, as it sat outside the hotel. The incident occurred at approximately 8:40 am when emergency teams responded to a report of a vehicle fire at the hotel.
Tesla Cybertruck blast
Surveillance footage showed the MY2024 Cybertruck moving up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before parking in front of the hotel and exploding into flames moments later. The electric pickup truck was reportedly rented in Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas an hour before the blast. The report mentions that FBI officials have identified the driver but refused to publicly reveal the identity.
The developments clearly indicate involvement of external sources in what looks like a planned explosion. Tesla CEO has come out and clarified that the blast was unrelated to the Cybertruck itself. In his X (formerly Twitter) post Musk stated, “We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”
Las Vegas firefighters arrived at the scene of the vehicle fire within four minutes of the initial report and quickly extinguished the blaze. Two individuals sustained minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. As a precautionary measure, the Trump Hotel was evacuated following the incident. The majority of guests were subsequently relocated to an alternate hotel.
Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and son of President-elect Donald Trump, posted about the incident on X. “Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” he wrote, referring to the building’s covered entrance area.
(With inputs from Reuters)
