Wartburg Wrestling Event Altered By Las Vegas Crash

No one associated with the Wartburg College wrestling team was involved in a deadly car accident involving pedestrians along the famous Las Vegas strip, but the mishap forced two teams to withdraw from a tournament the Knights are hosting there today (Monday, Dec. 21, 2015).

Local police said a woman intentionally swerved her car onto the sidewalk outside the Paris Hotel & Casino Sunday night, killing one person and injuring nearly 40 others. The injured included 10 people from Delaware Valley University of Pennsylvania and Pacific University of Oregon, who were in Las Vegas to compete in Wartburg's 20th annual Desert Duals event (CLICK HERE, for tournament results).

Delaware Valley officials have confirmed that five DelVal wrestlers and Head Coach/Athletic Director Steve Cantrell were all hit by the car as they were on their way to a movie following a work out.

Pacific officials said 19 athletes and coaches were walking together when the car swerved onto the sidewalk sending four wrestlers to the hospital. Two student-athletes were later released, and the other was kept overnight for observation.

Both teams pulled out of the tournament and were making arrangements to return home today. The pairings were adjusted and the tournament went on as scheduled, Wartburg Sports Information Director KatieJo Kuhens said via telephone from Las Vegas.

She confirmed that no one from Wartburg was involved in the accident, which made national headlines.

“No wrestlers, fans, or anyone associated with Wartburg was injured,” Kuhens said.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told reporters Monday that Lakeisha Holloway, 24, of Oregon, wouldn't stop and it appeared from video that the mishap was an intentional act. Her 3-year-old daughter was in the car but wasn't injured.

Lombardo said police believe Holloway had a falling out with the father of her child before the crash.

Holloway is being held without bail and prosecutors plan to charge her with murder, using a deadly weapon. Several other charges are being considered, said Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson.