Maple Valley 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.
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.
I find it sad that some of you have found Sandy's and the other victims as a venue to argue over political and moral issues. Please stop and say prayers for her family their families and their loved ones. God will give all of us meaning and purpose through this some how.
Suspect has been identified.
Find this guy and fry his sorry, worthless butt for all the hell he caused.
I learned tonight nthat Sandy was a 2 time survior of breast cancer, she belonged to my daughters team, Valley girls n guys, This was was really unbelieveable:-( Her whole TEAM Is BESIDE THEMSELVES!!:-(
What a shame. Â And all the media can focus on is the "rapper" who died.
RIP
How tragic for this family. My thoughts and prayers to them.Â
Tragic - a death that was an indirect result of the 2nd amendment. If you don't think major changes are necessary in regards to guns, then YOU are part of the problem too.
@Tooby RoosdayÂ
Stop  blaming  an  object  for  the  deathsâ¦â¦A  selfish-person  pulled  the  trigger.
@lavaG Once again, just for your simple mind to understand - IF THERE WERE NO GUNS INVOLVED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO DEATHS. Â
@Tooby Roosday Ugh, please just crawl back under your rock.
@Sheridan Gladly! Because when you or someone else tries to shoot me, the bullet will ricochet and hit you. BANG! One less gun toting imbecile on the streets!
@Tooby Roosday Holy Crap! If we take away the guns then only the criminals will have them. Do you think they have registered guns? I don't like them myself. But my 30 year old daughter has been trained and will shoot if she has to. She rides hewr horse alone in the country where we never used to see anyone else bt maybe someone else on a horse. Now there's weirdos everywhere. We excersise our right and we are proud to. Go away. Go back to sleep.
@Laverne Swanson @Tooby Roosday You are another one that really just does not get it. Do a little research - most of the guns that criminals have are stolen from the so called "law" abiding gun owners, the kind that don't lock up their guns, leave them in night tables by their beds or from gun stores. When the numbers of guns start to decline in general, there will be less guns for criminals to get their hands on.Â
@lavaG You are kidding right? Your staggering intellect has decided that people who don't think you should leave guns easily accessible in homes are socialist.Â
@Tooby Roosday @Laverne SwansonÂ
Does  not  matter  where  guns  are  left  in  a  law  abiding  home.  It  is  the  Home-Owners  responsibility.  Not a socialists like you Tooby.
@Laverne Swanson @Tooby Roosday CORRECTION: my statement "most of the guns criminals have are stolen..." should have been "many" rather than "most." Statistics show it is 10%%-15%%. Regardless, it's still a lot of guns, approximately 500,000 stolen from citizens every year.
Before there is more debate about guns and crime rates, a little research into other media sources clearly indicate this was an organized crime hit. Mr. Cherry was a criminal and was killed by other criminals. His law suit against some Italian mobsters probably didn't got over well.
@Goodwin You can not refute that the death of the women from Maple Valley in the taxi would never have occurred if there wasn't a shooting with guns. It matters not if they were criminals, what does matter is that it was caused by the presence of guns.
@nkroadcaptain You are pussyfooting around. Quit using the term african-american, they are black, just as I am white. I wonder if black people who live in other countries care so much to called african-russian, african-canadian and so on. Just be proud to be called American like I am.
My condolences go out to the friends and family...Â
out at 1:30 am in Vegas seems like not necessarily a good idea....
especially considering the past few years they way violence has become much more prevalent there than it was even just a few years ago.
This old saying holds true nothing good happens after midnite
Throw in alcohol, opulence, over the top behavior and all this in what is known as "the sin capital" of the U.S. and I will opt to stay home where it is safer.
@sunnysandiego I thought what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.....Their own city brags and encourages reckless behavior...Sadly peoples poor decisions (not her's) cost her life.
@K00lGuy @sunnysandiego if you did a statistical analysis of crime in any city you will find it goes higher as it gets later.  when a person decides to go out at 1:30 am in Vegas a city well renowned for its bad element you implicitly take on a portion of the responsibility for what happens even if you are not directly involved.
that is where choices are made which can be the difference between life and death.
As a bicyclist if I ride my bike at night with no lights and no helmet and someone hits me though technically not my fault my choice created some of the scenario leading to my accident....
@sunnysandiegoÂ
Your  point  in  this  case  does  not  line  up.
@lakeview @sunnysandiego well just because the crime "reported" from the government of Vegas reports crime is down certainly that means it is true.  I mean, it would be crazy to think they would actually fib about that I mean it is vegas and they are well renowned for being ethical....
Most cities are experiencing a rise in crime, vegas might not be only because fewer people are going there than previously. Â Of course this doesn't necessarily equate to Vegas is safer.
I mean one of your own just died. Â You think mexico is unsafe? Â How many washington citizens have died there recently? Â One just did in vegas.
I would not feel safe there after 1 am with the recent rise in violent crime which has definitely been happening
@sunnysandiego I wonder where you got your information that crime is on the rise in Vegas over the past few years. This article from today seems to contradict your claim.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/las-vegas-dangerous-crime-drops-18574458
Also, I wonder if you have ever been to Vegas. If you are sleeping at 1:30am in Vegas you are doing it all wrong.Â
So sad. Could have been any of us. Condolences to all.
lavaG
my comment was ment for nkroadcaption, he says guns dont kill people
nkroadcaptian
Firemen don't put out fires water doesÂ
@norlan There is at least ONE person in every crowd like you........................
Actually there are two - the other one wants to make a brief blurb about "BANNING" something...
@norlanÂ
AS  âDirectedâ  by  the  Firemen
Prayers out to Sandy's family and friends. A tragic, senseless loss of a wonderful woman who will be mourned by so many. May you all find peace and comfort in knowing that your community feels your loss, understands that there is a void in your lives that is so deep and painful, and that they respect your time of mourning. Nothing can replace her, but pulling together and embracing the people who love and care for you can be such a comfort. Never be afraid to tell someone you love them, because you don't know when your time, or theirs, is up.Â
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@nkroadcaptain Do you have any evidence backing up that claim, other than the fact that a rapper was killed in the incident? You weren't there, so the only facts you know are the ones reported through the media.  It sounds to me like you are just a bigot looking for a place to spew your hate.
@justmyopinion @nkroadcaptain Bullet holes delivered to the chest from a conspicuous SUV while driving down the street are not really a part of college frat boys, bikers, mob bosses, and other subcultures. Of course, it's common in LA, Chicago, and other places, and has happened here.
Rest in peace fair lady.
It sounds as if the driver that hit the taxi that she was riding may have been already deadÂ
or dieing from a bullet wound to the chest.
I am sorry to hear one of our own was killed in that mayhem in Vegas. A bunch of wanabe gang bangers our shooting up each other and ending up killing poor people who were only there to have a little fun. Those who write, produce and portray this culture only draw it to them selves. I don't mind if they kill off each other in fact I would even buy them the guns to do it, but there is no way to protect those who are not party to their culture. Â
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@the unvarnished truth @LongBeachBum Wanna be in that context to me means wanna be famous rapper gangsters... obviously, they have the gun toting part down. Punks. I know what ya meant LB Bum.
@Scoondog @the unvarnished truth @LongBeachBum The man that died that was a rapper yes, BUT he did NOT have a gun. Stop blaiming the victim.
Horrible. Â Please catch the people who participated in this atrocity.
Why don't we set aside the sarcasm and disagreements for once. This women lost her life to pointless argument in which she had no involvement in the first place. Somebody lost there life for what? Somebody was killed because of someone else. Just let that sink into your heads for a minute SOMEONE HAS LOST THERE LIFE. THAT SOMEONE HAS KIDS WHO ARE HURTING, FRIENDS WHO ARE HURTING and all you as*holes can do is throw around sarcastic comments. PEOPLE ARE HURTING, GET YOU HEADS ON STRAIGHT AND JUST OFFER YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING AND SUFFERING THE LOSS.
The  trigger-person  did  this.  Not-the-Gun.  The  trigger-person  needs to  die  for  their  intentional-murder.Â
Not  slap  their  hand,  but,  Put-To-Death.   Swift-Quick  Justice  for  the  surviving  Families.
Heavenly Peace for the Victims.
Finally! Something about one of the INNOCENT VICTIMS of this murder
@Moishe Pipik The rapper had no weapons, so how exactly is he not a victim? Were you there? Did you see him act in a way that would merit this to happen to him? Just because he rapped does NOT make him a bad person.
My deepest condolences to Ms. Sutton-Wasmund's family and friends.Â
RIP Ms. Sandra.
The tiniest of consolations that she didn't die as a result of the fire.Â
Las Vegas/Clark County police should be ashamed of themselves. What kind of message does this send to potential visitors or tourists. "Oh, hey, you can openly murder people right on the Strip and get away with it." Unacceptable. I'm boycotting Vegas until the suspects in this case have been identified, apprehended, trialed, and convicted.
@Whobeke Whoever did it had better hope the police find them before the Vegas business interests do. Having tourists killed is bad for business.
@Whobeke Just stick to Old Vegas - Fremont.Â
@Whobeke they are still trying to figure out who killed tupac
You have a valid point
@Whobeke Boycotting Vegas until the suspects are caught?  A little dramatic tonight are we?
@Whobeke That's right! You tell them! It's the police's fault. The police should already have "trialed" these criminals.
@Whobeke One person did the shooting. The police cannot read peoples minds, if they could we would not half to worry about crime at all. With one person doing the shooting you are going to take it out on a whole city? You think this kind of thing only happens in Vegas?