Turo-rented cars were involved in 2 deadly incidents this New Year’s. Here’s what we know
NEW YORK– Two fatal incidents on New Year’s Day – one attack being investigated as an act of terrorism in New Orleans and a explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas – both involved vehicles rented from Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing company.
On Wednesday, 42-year-old army veteran Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar asked hit a pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, killing 14 people celebrating the New Year. And police fatally shot Jabbar during an ensuing gun battle. Just hours later, a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives also burst into flames outside President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas. The person inside, identified as active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger, died. Officials later said he suffered a gunshot wound to the head before the explosion.
In a statement on Wednesday, Turo said it was “devastated by these terrible incidents” and “remained committed to assisting authorities however we can.” Although both incidents involved vehicles rented on this platform, the FBI has since done so said “No definitive link” has been found between the attack in New Orleans and the explosion in Las Vegas.
Still, the incidents have put the car-sharing platform in the spotlight. Here’s what we know about Turo.
Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing company. Through the online platform, car owners can rent out their own car directly to other drivers in the area, or ‘guests’. “Hosts” determine their prices, availability and delivery options from which renters can choose and book via Turo’s website or app.
Today, Turo calls itself “the world’s largest car sharing marketplace” and says it currently operates through a network of hosts in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and France.
The San Francisco-based company has been around for almost 15 years first trip completed in May 2010. The platform was originally introduced as “RelayRides”, but rebranded as Turo in 2015.
Once again, investigators have found no definitive link between Wednesday’s attack in New Orleans and the subsequent explosion in Las Vegas. But both incidents involved vehicles rented on Turo.
Authorities have said the Cybertruck involved in the Las Vegas explosion was rented through the Turo app in Colorado. Kevin McMahill, the elected sheriff of Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, said Wednesday that authorities knew who rented this truck, but did not release the name until investigators determined if it was the same person who died.
Turo also confirmed that the pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack was also rented through the platform.
“It is with heavy hearts that we confirm that Wednesday’s horrific attack in New Orleans and the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas both involved vehicles rented on Turo,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
Turo has said it is working with law enforcement to share information as the investigation continues.
On Wednesday, the company also said it did not believe “that either tenant had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat.” The Associated Press reached out for further comment on Thursday.