An apparent explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck occurred outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas at approximately 8:40 PM local time, with authorities now investigating the incident as an active crime scene.
X (formerly Twitter) user @kaaaassuu, who was present at the scene, provided real-time documentation of the events as they unfolded. “I and my husband were literally standing where the luggage is in the footage. I just saw it pulled up, and it lowered itself like a bus, and boom it goes,” they reported. “It first looked like fireworks or something but then I immediately feared for our life thinking it could be a bomb and ran.”
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
The witness later added that they were “very thankful to be alive,” noting that their decision to wait inside due to cold weather may have saved their lives. “I literally fell down on my knees as I hid behind the counter,” they recounted.
Health officials are warning anyone who may have been exposed to smoke from the incident to seek immediate medical attention. According to public safety experts, lithium battery fires can release toxic fumes containing hydrogen fluoride, with exposure symptoms potentially leading to serious complications hours after initial contact.
Multiple witnesses described seeing colorful explosions with “intermittent explosions and whistling” sounds before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. The incident occurred in an area where hotel guests typically leave their luggage, though no injuries have been reported at this time.
Several national media outlets, including NBC News correspondent Colin Sheeley (@Csheels) and local station KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV), have begun covering the developing situation. The FBI has also been made aware of the incident, with preliminary investigations suggesting the event may have been deliberately orchestrated.
Tesla vehicle experts, including verified social media users @TeslaBusDriver and @stealer82, have emphasized that such explosions are not typical of the vehicle’s normal operation, suggesting deliberate intervention may have been involved.
Local law enforcement has cordoned off the area, declaring it an active crime scene. Investigators are working to determine whether there was a driver present at the time of the incident, though witnesses report being unable to identify if anyone was operating the vehicle.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. This report is based on social media documentation and has not been independently verified.
