Las Vegas Driver Intentionally Hit Pedestrians, Including DelVal Students, Report Says

Doylestown, PA- Five students from Delaware Valley University were among the dozens injured after police say a driver intentionally struck pedestrians along the Las Vegas strip Sunday evening. Steve Cantrell, the University’s Director of Athletics and head wrestling coach, was also hit.

CNN has reported the driver, a woman, intentionally struck the pedestrians and was tested for drugs and alcohol. One person was killed. A total of 37 were injured.

All of the DelVal students and Cantrell have been released from the hospital and are expected to make full recoveries, the university said.

The driver has been identified by police as Lakeisha N. Holloway, 24. She will face a murder with a deadly weapon charge in connection with the death among other charges, CNN said.

Holloway’s three-year-old daughter was in the car with her and was unharmed, police said.

“This was not an act of terrorism,” Brett Zimmerman, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief, said, according to CNN. “We are treating this as an intentional act.”

The crash took place at 6:38 p.m. local time, police said, as the 2015 Miss Universe pageant’s live taping was wrapping up inside Planet Hollywood, where Miss Philippines won the crown.

According to Delaware Valley University, the students and coach were in Las Vegas for a tournament. They were on their way to a movie after working out when the carnage happened.

“We need to feel blessed. The way our students acted at the scene and the way they were caring for everyone was amazing,” said Cantrell. “I called the tournament director and said, ‘it doesn’t make sense to focus on wrestling today.’ They have gone through something emotional and they are processing what they witnessed.”

The students will not wrestle in Monday’s competition. The students are expected to return to campus Tuesday.

Cantrell is working with a counselor in Las Vegas to provide support for the students and the University will continue to provide counseling services to the students who were affected when they come home, the university said.

“The University is thankful that Steve and our student-athletes were not more seriously injured,” said Dr. April Vari, DelVal’s vice president for student affairs. “Please keep all involved in the incident in your thoughts and prayers.”

Image via ‏@AyanaAmaechi, used with permission