Date: January 2, 2025, 11:32 AM. 

Last updated on: January 2, 2025, 12:02 PM.

Following the recent tragic incident of a vehicle-ramming attack in New Orleans, it is essential to reflect on how Las Vegas dealt with a similar situation nine years ago.

On December 20, 2015, a tragic event occurred when a woman drove her vehicle onto the sidewalk near Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, resulting in the death of a tourist and injuries to many others.

To enhance safety measures, Clark County installed crash-rated bollards and other protective barriers along the Las Vegas Strip from the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign to Sahara Avenue.

These safety features, costing over $22 million, were strategically positioned to provide protection to pedestrians and prevent future incidents.

The bollards, designed by Kimley-Horn, offer more than eight miles of pedestrian protection along the corridor, reducing potential risks at busy intersections along the Strip.

Despite these measures, some access points like driveways remain vulnerable, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance and security enhancements.

The Suspect

The alleged perpetrator, Lakeisha Holloway, a 24-year-old resident of Portland, Oregon, was involved in the incident after residing in her car in Las Vegas for a week.

Authorities reported that Holloway expressed intentions of causing harm, mentioning she was in emotional distress. Fortunately, her young child in the vehicle was unharmed.

Holloway faced multiple charges, including murder, child abuse, and leaving the scene of an accident, complicated further by mental health issues requiring psychiatric care.

After a period of evaluation, she was deemed fit for trial in March 2021. In 2023, she rejected a plea deal and opted for a trial, scheduled to commence in March, a decade after the incident.