On January 1, 2025, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in one killed and seven injuries.
The explosion occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. in the hotel's valet area. The Cybertruck, rented through the Turo app, was carrying large fireworks or a bomb in its bed, which detonated near the hotel's entrance. The driver was killed, and seven bystanders sustained minor injuries.
A video of the Cybertruck exploding has also surfaced which is rapidly going viral on social media platform X, showing the vehicle completely burning near the hotel lobby.
Cybertruck blew up in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Those are our luggage by the door and that’s where we were when it happened. pic.twitter.com/KaVZXfGLNK
— ayackle (@kaaaassuu) January 1, 2025
Also, witnesses in the area reported hearing several loud "boom, boom, boom" noises before the vehicle burst into flames.
Authorities, including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and the FBI, are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.
There is also speculation that the blast may have been caused by suspected explosive devices placed in the chest of the vehicle, but this has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
The incident comes amid reports of Tesla CEO Elon Musk growing closer to US President-elect Donald Trump. Musk reportedly spent New Year's Eve at Trump's Mar-a-Lago property and attended a dinner with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stated that the explosion was caused by the fireworks or bomb in the truck's bed and was unrelated to the vehicle itself.
