FOREST GROVE — Four members of the Pacific University wrestling team were among the people injured when a vehicle plowed into pedestrians on a busy sidewalk along the Las Vegas Strip Sunday.
The team, with 20 members, was visiting Las Vegas to compete in the Wartburg Desert Duals on Monday.
Coach Severin Walsh said he "heard the motor gun" and saw a car jump the curb as he and the others walked outside the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino. "There was lots of screaming and a loud, loud thud," he said, recalling the horror. "At one point she stopped for a second and you know, the engine, with her foot on the gas pedal, she kind of got high centered."
He said that once all four tires were back on the ground, the female driver sped forward, steering around light poles and street signs to hit people in the crowd.
The car struck at least 34 people. One person was killed and three people suffered critical injuries, according to the Clark County, Nevada sheriff. The other 30 were either hospitalized or treated at the scene.
Team trainer Eric Pitkanen said the chaos was unimaginable.
"You look to your left, there’s a person on their back. You look behind you and there's a person on a gurney. The person in front of you is getting their head wrapped. It was a pretty insane situation,” he recalled.
Severin said one student-athlete, one assistant coach and two recent graduates who help Pacific's wrestling team were struck at the end of the crash. They suffered cuts, minor injuries and soreness that lingered days later.
"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," university President Lesley Hallick said in a prepared statement Monday. "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."
Background: Driver rams into pedestrians in Las Vegas
The team canceled plans to compete in the Las Vegas wrestling competition and flew back to Portland Monday afternoon.
"Due to the tragic incident in Las Vegas, where four members of the traveling party of our wrestling team were injured and the remainder were witnesses to this terrible event, we have decided that the team will not participate in the scheduled matches on Monday," said Pacific University athletic director Ken Schumann. "The mental and physical well-being of our student-athletes is our top priority and to attempt to wrestle after experiencing such an event would not be in their best interests."
KGW was at Portland International Airport when the team returned, hugging waiting family members in an emotional reunion.
Mary Ann Guerra told KGW her son Christian was hurt and had to get staples in his head, but was otherwise okay. She said the group had just gone to see the new Star Wars movie when the car smashed into the crowd.
She said Christian is an 18-year-old freshman and he's studying physical therapy at Pacific.
"The detials are very scary," Mary Ann said. "We just want to get him home and make sure he's healthy and heals quickly."
Pacific University is headquartered in Forest Grove, Oregon. There are about 3,500 students currently enrolled, who attend classes on the campuses in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Eugene and Woodburn.
The woman accused of driving the car that rammed into the students and other pedestrians is also from Oregon. Lakeisha Holloway recently moved to Vegas from Portland, according to police.
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