New Year’s Day Tragedies Involving Turo Rentals Spark Questions: Terror Attack in New Orleans and Deadly Tesla Explosion in Las Vegas

Two shocking incidents on New Year’s Day have shaken the nation—a terror attack in New Orleans and a deadly Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas. Both events, currently under investigation, share a striking commonality: the vehicles involved were rented through Turo, a popular peer-to-peer car-sharing platform.

Early Wednesday morning, 42-year-old Army veteran Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a New Orleans crowd, killing 14 New Year’s revelers in the French Quarter. Police killed Jabbar during a firefight. Hours later, outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives erupted into flames, killing the vehicle’s occupant, Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret. Officials later revealed Livelsberger had suffered a gunshot wound to the head before the explosion.

Turo’s Response to the Incidents

Turo, headquartered in San Francisco, expressed its devastation in a statement:

“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that [Wednesday’s] horrific attack in New Orleans and … Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas both involved vehicles rented on Turo. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”

The company added that neither renter appeared to have a criminal background that would have flagged them as potential security threats.

Turo emphasized its full cooperation with authorities but maintained that the FBI has not found “any definitive link” between the two incidents.

What Is Turo?

Turo is a car-sharing platform that allows private vehicle owners, known as “hosts,” to rent their cars to nearby drivers, or “guests.” Launched in 2010 as “RelayRides” and rebranded in 2015, Turo operates in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and France. It bills itself as the world’s largest car-sharing marketplace.

The vehicles used in both New Year’s Day incidents were rented through Turo’s app. The Cybertruck in Las Vegas was rented in Colorado, while the pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack was also confirmed to have been secured via Turo.

Investigations Continue

Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that investigators are aware of who rented the Cybertruck but are withholding names until further forensic analysis determines whether the renter was the same individual who died.

Turo stated that it remains committed to assisting law enforcement, adding:

“We are dedicated to helping the authorities however we can during this difficult time.”

As the FBI and local law enforcement agencies work to unravel the details of these tragedies, the spotlight remains on Turo and the implications for peer-to-peer car-sharing platforms in preventing such devastating incidents.

👉 Stay informed with real-time updates and in-depth analysis at NewsLink7.com. Fact-checked news that matters. Follow us 24/7, 365 days. There are no sides, just the truth. Explore more stories and stay ahead with NewsLink7.com.