Del Val wrestlers injured in Vegas car attack
Five Delaware Valley University wrestlers and their coach were among dozens of people injured Sunday night in Las Vegas when a driver allegedly drove intentionally onto a crowded sidewalk, killing a 32-year-old Arizona woman.
Five Delaware Valley University wrestlers and their coach were among dozens of people injured Sunday night in Las Vegas when a driver allegedly drove intentionally onto a crowded sidewalk, killing a 32-year-old Arizona woman.
The students, along with Steve Cantrell, the university's director of athletics and head wrestling coach, were treated at a local hospital, according to the Bucks County university.
The men, in Las Vegas for a wrestling tournament, the Desert Duals, suffered "mostly bumps, bruises, and a few cuts from the glass," said Laurie Ward, chief marketing and communications officer for the school.
The driver, Lakeisha N. Holloway, 24, had a 3-year-old child with her when her car jumped the curb and began striking people. She was arrested, is on suicide watch at a jail, and is likely to be charged with murder and other crimes, officials said.
At least three victims are in critical condition, officials said.
The five Delaware Valley students and Cantrell had just completed a workout and were on their way to a movie a few blocks from their hotel when the crash occurred, according to Ward. Even though they were injured, the students helped others at the scene until first responders arrived, by rushing to their aid and calming them down, she said.
"The way our students acted at the scene and the way they were caring for everyone was amazing," Cantrell said in a statement on the college's website. "I called the tournament director and said, 'It doesn't make sense to focus on wrestling today.' They have gone through something emotional, and they are processing what they witnessed."
The statement said Cantrell is working with a counselor in Las Vegas to provide support to the students.
Sophomore Nick Menkin of Long Branch, N.J., tweeted "Thankful everyone is okay! Love the squad @DVU_Wrestling."
The wrestlers were originally scheduled to compete in the tournament on Friday but pulled out after the incident. The group is to return to campus on Tuesday as scheduled, Ward said.
Wrestlers from Pacific University in Oregon were also injured, and that team also withdrew from the tournament, Ward said.
"The university is thankful that Steve and our student-athletes were not more seriously injured," April Vari, vice president for student affairs, said in a statement.
Delaware Valley is in Doylestown Township and has an undergraduate enrollment of 1,807, according to its website.
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This article contains information from the Associated Press.