Four Students Among Those Injured in Las Vegas Strip Crash on Sunday
Updated 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22 - The student-athlete held overnight for observation at a Las Vegas hospital was released and the team returned home on Monday, Dec. 21. Upon their return, team members adjourned for the Winter Break and will reconvene on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
Updated 8:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21 - Pacific University President Lesley Hallick has issued the following statement regarding Sunday evening's tragic event in Las Vegas involving university students:
"The safety and well-being of our students and employees, both those injured and all who witnessed this traumatic incident, are of paramount importance. We are relieved that none of our students suffered life threatening injuries, but at the same time, saddened to hear of those who were killed or critically injured. We are very thankful to all of the first responders, and to our athletic trainer, who worked tirelessly to treat both the injured and those emotionally shaken by what they witnessed. I am also most appreciative of our coaches and athletic staff for reaching out to our wrestling student-athletes and their families to provide support and to arrange to bring the team home today."
Initial release
Four Pacific University students were among those injured early Sunday evening when a vehicle plowed into pedestrians on a busy sidewalk on the Las Vegas Strip
Police say a woman intentionally swerved her car two or three times onto the sidewalk outside the Paris Hotel & Casino at about 6:30 p.m., killing one person and injuring nearly 40 others, including the four Pacific students, all of whom sustained non-life threatening injuries.
The students are members of Pacific's men's wrestling team, which was in Las Vegas to compete in the Wartburg Desert Duals on Monday. The team, comprised of 19 student-athletes and coaches, were walking together when the incident occurred. Three of the four injured students were transported to a local hospital, two of whom were later released. The other student has been kept overnight for observation.
The team will not compete in Monday's scheduled tournament. Pacific University's fall semester concluded last week and classes are adjourned until Jan. 11.