1 Dead After Tesla Cybertruck Bursts Into Flames in Front of Trump Hotel in Las Vegas

An investigation is underway after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 1, leaving one person dead and seven others injured, according to local authorities.

The Clark County Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire in the valet area of the hotel at approximately 8:40 a.m. local time, according to NBC News.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said at a press conference that there was “one deceased individual in the Cybertruck.” The identity of that individual, who is believed to the the vehicle’s driver, has not been publicly shared.

Additionally, McMahill said that seven people suffered reportedly minor injuries.

Of the seven people who were reportedly injured, two were transported to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas for treatment.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed they are involved in the investigation and asked locals to steer clear of the area around the hotel, which has been evacuated, according to CBS News.

Multiple videos on social media show the electric SUV burning in front of the hotel’s main entrance on the Las Vegas strip.

An eyewitness sharing their experience on X claimed the vehicle, “quietly pulled up and next thing you know there’s a huge explosion.”

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“The Cybertruck pulled up to the front of the hotel, and in fact I can tell you it pulled right up to the glass entrance doors of the hotel,” said a spokesperson for LVMPD who spoke at the conference. “We saw that smoke start showing from the vehicle and then a large explosion from the truck occurs.”

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, but authorities acknowledged that they are “very well aware” of the deadly New Orleans attack, now considered an act of terrorism by the FBI, which occurred around 3:15 a.m. local time on Jan. 1, killing at least 15 people.

“As you can imagine, with an explosion here on our iconic Las Vegas Blvd., we are taking all the precautions that we need to take to keep our community safe,” added the spokesperson. “We are looking for secondary devices. We’re taking it slow. We are going to make sure that we remain safe in our community.”

Until a cause is determined, the explosion is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack, reported CNN and ABC News, citing an official who has been briefed on the investigation.

President-elect Donald Trump’s son, Eric Trump, addressed the incident at the property in a statement shared on X.

“Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas. The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority,” he wrote. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism. @TrumpLasVegas.”

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla who has become increasingly close with Trump, has also commented on the situation, tweeting, “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. Will post more information as soon as we learn anything. We’ve never seen anything like this.”

Tesla did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.