Woman charged in fatal Strip crash sent to state mental health hospital

A judge on Friday ordered Lakeisha Holloway, the woman accused of driving her car onto a busy Strip sidewalk, killing one person and injuring dozens of others, sent to a state mental health hospital.

Two doctors raised concerns about Holloway’s competency, and the criminal case against her will essentially remain on hold while she is treated, although she will remain in custody.

“There are concerns whether or not she can rationally cooperate with her attorneys,” Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee said. “Right now we can’t do anything. We’re in a holding pattern … So until she’s able to go forward, rationally assist, she’s going to be at a state facility.”

Holloway faces 71 counts, including murder with use of a deadly weapon, attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, battery with use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm and child abuse, neglect or bodily harm.

Authorities said a toxicology examination of Holloway, 24, showed she was above the legal limit for marijuana at the time of the Dec. 20 crash.

Holloway told Las Vegas police that she remembered a body bouncing off her windshield, breaking it. She told police she was not on drugs or alcohol, according to an arrest report. Blood samples were taken from Holloway, and police initially said that although she did not demonstrate signs of being under the influence of alcohol when she was arrested, she may have been on stimulants. The Clark County district attorney’s office did not mention indications of any other drugs in her system.

It is against the law to drive while high on marijuana, even for people authorized to use the drug medicinally.

Jessica Valenzuela was trapped under Holloway’s Oldsmobile for at least 200 yards as pedestrians ran alongside, banging on the car and trying to get her to stop, the Las Vegas Review-Journal learned.

Valenzuela, 32, of Buckeye, Ariz., died at University Medical Center from multiple blunt-force injuries as a result of the crash. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Thirty-five people were injured in the crash.

Prosecutors said one victim was transported to Mexico in critical condition. Two others were taken to hospitals in Canada and are expected to survive.

A source close to the investigation said Holloway is seen on surveillance video driving her car along the Strip, creeping along with the flow of traffic, before suddenly accelerating and turning right onto the sidewalk in front of Planet Hollywood. The car was driven through the crosswalk in front of Paris Las Vegas and careened into a light pole. The woman veered off the sidewalk near Bally’s and drove about a mile on a flat tire to Tuscany at the corner of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane.

Witnesses said that Holloway’s vehicle moved onto the sidewalk multiple times and had all four wheels on the sidewalk.

Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter @randompoker