Shocking video shows the moment a Tesla Cybertruck explodes
A Tesla Cybertruck sat outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas for just 15 seconds before it exploded.
Authorities have begun piecing together the days and hours of the man they say drove the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded on New Year’s Day in Las Vegas.
Matthew Livelsberger, 37, was identified as the person who rented the Cybertruck days earlier in Colorado and drove it to Las Vegas. Because the remains of the person found dead inside the vehicle after it exploded were badly burned, officials said they could not yet conclude with complete certainty the man was Livelsberger, but had enough evidence to believe he was the driver.
The blast happened Wednesday morning before 9 a.m. in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Livelsberger is believed to have shot himself in the head immediately before the detonation, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference Thursday.
Despite striking similarities, authorities said they don’t have any evidence the explosion is connected to the deadly attack in New Orleans hours earlier. Livelsberger’s motive remains known.
Here’s what we know about Livelsberger’s movements with the Cybertruck leading up to the blast, according to authorities:
Truck rented days earlier in Colorado
Authorities said they tracked the movements of Livelsberger and the Cybertruck using Tesla charging station records and photos from traffic cameras.
Dec. 28: Livelsberger rents the Cybertruck in Denver using the peer-to-peer car rental platform Turo.
Dec. 30: The Cybertruck is charged in Monument, Colorado. Also that day, Livelsberger legally purchased two semi-automatic handguns, according to Kenny Cooper, assistant special agent in charge of ATF’s San Francisco field division.
Dec. 31: The Cybertruck is charged in four locations: Trinidad, Colorado; Las Vegas, New Mexico; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Gallup, New Mexico.
Jan. 1: The Cybertruck is charged in Holbrook, Flagstaff and Kingman, Arizona. One final charge is made at 5:33 a.m. in Kingman, Arizona, about 100 miles away from Las Vegas.
The day of the explosion
The Cybertruck was located in Las Vegas early Jan. 1, McMahill said.
7:29 a.m.: The Cybertruck is first spotted in Las Vegas
7:34 a.m.: The Cybertruck is seen turning on to Fashion Show Drive, the location of the Trump International Hotel.
Between 7:34 and 8:35 a.m.: The Cybertruck pulled through the valet at the Trump hotel, then spent the next hour driving at several different locations along Las Vegas Boulevard. The truck spent nearly 45 minutes in the parking lot of a business near Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road.
8:35 a.m.: The Cybertruck is spotted pulling onto Las Vegas Boulevard from Sands Avenue.
8:39 a.m.: The Cybertruck again pulls into the valet area of Trump hotel. Within 17 seconds, the truck explodes. The the driver shot themselves in the head immediately before the detonation, McMahill said.
The driver was killed and seven others were injured.