Wash. woman killed in fiery crash on Las Vegas strip
LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Maple Valley woman has been identified as the passenger in a taxi who was killed in a fiery crash on the Las Vegas Strip.
Clark County Coroner's officials said Friday that 48-year-old Sandra Sutton-Wasmund died of multiple blunt force injuries.
She was among three people killed in the dramatic, early-morning crash and fire Thursday that started with someone in a Range Rover shooting at a Maserati. The Maserati then hit the cab that Sutton-Wasmund was riding in and burst into flames, triggering a multi-vehicle crash.
In a Friday statement, Sutton-Wasmund's family described her as a pillar of the community, a business owner and a loving mother and wife.
"Her innocent and tragic loss will be felt by all of those who knew and loved her and by the community at large," the statement reads.
Debbie Tvedt is the office manager at a Maple Valley plumbing company that Sutton-Wasmund started with her husband, James Wasmund. Tvedt called the death "a big loss" and added tearfully, "This woman was everything to this community."
Tvedt said Sutton-Wasmund co-owned a dress shop called The Dazzled Dame and had gone to Las Vegas with her partner in the shop for a trade show.
The medical examiner says the cab driver, Michael Boldon, also died of multiple blunt force injuries and the Maserati's driver died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Police are searching for the gunman in a black Range Rover SUV who triggered the violence. They think an argument at the valet area of the upscale Aria resort-casino led to the shooting, but they haven't shared details.
This sounds like a movie plot, but instead it's real life. I'm sorry for the lady and the cab driver and their families.
You can't have crap without rap. Another black on black crime spilling over into the decent world.
Come on Obama, speak up about the violence caused by your brothers and the hate and violence of their music.Pretty quick work by Metro. Seems like PPD would still be standing around.
http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/192769641.html
What is with rappers and gun violence and getting shot at? Oh ya... cause you have to be gangsta hoodie to "fit in". Rappers. Keeping music ignorant. Rap is just Crap minus the "C".
@Liberty4_WAÂ Spell tupac backwards- Ca Put
Out here in the wild wild southeast I am surprised innocent people are not shot more.Â
On yahoo news comments pointed out the target was more pimp than rapper.
Condolences to the family of Sandra this is such a tragic event. Â Â
lets do this......"my heart goes out"Â Â Â "tougts and prayers"Â Â "this happened for a reason"Â Â Â "shes in a better place"
With all the blunt force trauma injuries, I wonder if seat belts worn in the cab would have helped?
Probably not when it burst into a ball of flames.
Read the story again, she died of blunt force trauma. Of course it's speculation whether not having been knocked out would have allowed her to get out! Just a thought!Â
@jasmin10 They didn't die from the fire!
living in las vegas is gambling with your life
@Phuzz Probably more shootings in Portland weekly then Vegas.
Unfortunately, what happens in Vegas doesn't always just affect Vegas.
This is very sad.
yes this is very sad indeed, what even more sad? it will just happen again and again! until the world is once and for all rid of ALL  guns!  que the gun lovers response, "guns dont kill people' in 3,2,1..