Oregon woman held in Las Vegas Strip sidewalk rampage

A driver who killed a woman and injured at least 35 more people after mounting the pavement on the Las Vegas Strip is believed to have been homeless, and under the influence of a stimulant at the time, police said.

Authorities said bystanders jumped on the car and banged on its windows as it ploughed through crowds of pedestrians.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told reporters that 24-year-old Lakeisha N Holloway would not stop and it appeared from video footage that it was an intentional act. Her three-year-old daughter was in the car but was not injured.

He said that after the incident, Ms Holloway drove to a hotel and told a valet to call 911 after explaining what she had done.

“She didn’t appear to be distressed due to her actions,” Mr Lombardo said. Police believe she had had an argument with the father of the child before the crash, Mr Lombardo said.

A drug recognition expert on the scene determined Ms Holloway was under the influence of a stimulant, but blood test results are pending.

Ms Holloway, who is from the Portland, Oregon area, had been homeless and living in her car in Las Vegas for about a week with her three-year-old child, Mr Lombardo said.

The crash occurred on a busy stretch of the Strip in front of the Paris and Planet Hollywood hotels, across from the dancing water fountains at the Bellagio. The Miss Universe pageant was being held at the Planet Hollywood resort at the time.

Jessica Valenzuela (32), of Arizona, died in the crash. Clark County coroner John Fudenberg said Ms Valenzuela, from the Phoenix suburb of Buckeye, was visiting Las Vegas with her husband.

The vehicle was in the northbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard near Bellagio Way when it drove up onto the pavement in front of the Paris hotel and struck pedestrians.

After the crash, the vehicle continued to head east on Flamingo Road, before it was found at a hotel. The driver was taken into custody there, police said. Prosecutors said they expect to file murder charges and other counts against the driver.

Clark County district attorney Steve Wolfson said the vehicle could be considered a deadly weapon: “When a person drives a 2,000lb-plus motor vehicle intentionally onto a sidewalk, killing and injuring scores of people, that’s murder.”

University Medical Centre treated 15 patients, with three listed as critical, two in serious condition and the rest discharged, spokeswoman Danita Cohen said.

An 11-year-old was among the injured, along with visitors from Montreal, Canada.

Sunrise Hospital and Medical Centre had four adults in fair condition, said Marissa Mussi, a spokeswoman for the facility.

Other people injured in the incident were treated and released, officials said. – (Agencies)