Miss Universe car crash which killed one, injured 37 was “intentional” – but not terrorism, say Las Vegas police
A woman who drove a car into a pavement on the Las Vegas Strip near to the Miss Universe pageant, killing at least one person, did so intentionally, police have told local media.
The driver is reported to have ploughed the car onto the pavement, where pedestrians were walking, a number of times, killing one person and injuring 37 others – six of whom are in a critical state.
The woman is now in custody, and undergoing tests for alcohol and other controlled substances. A three-year-old child, who was with her in the car at the time, was unharmed.
It appeared to be intentional, but was not being treated as an act of terrorism, deputy police chief Brett Zimmerman said.
Deputy Chief Zimmerman: This was not an act of terrorism. Initial investigation appears this was intentional. pic.twitter.com/EPxJnmUWdk
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) December 21, 2015
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed 26 people were taken to area hospitals and the Las Vegas Boulevard would be closed "most of the night for continued investigation".
"Our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families involved in this tragic event tonight," the department tweeted.
The incident occurred near to Planet Hollywood, where the Miss Universe pageant was taking place. Miss Phillippines – aka Pia Wurtzbach – was crowned the winner, but a blunder by host Steve Harvey meant that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez was named first, before the mistake was discovered.