LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It has been more than three years since accused driver Lakeisha Holloway killed a pedestrian and injured more than 30 others while driving on a Las Vegas Strip sidewalk.
13 Action News spoke to her on Thursday in a jailhouse interview at the Clark County Detention Center - where she has been since the crash.
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Holloway admitted an apology was long overdue and hadn't addressed the victims or their families because she was not in the right state of mind.
The driver accused of ramming into dozens of people on the Las Vegas Strip in 2015 talks to @KTNV. Lakeisha Halloway says she’s remembers “glimps” of that night and is truly sorry. Story at 5pm/6pm. pic.twitter.com/VpQrtoGmRD
— Cinthia Maldonado (@CinthiaKtnv) March 21, 2019
"The reason why it took me three years to interview is that I, one, never knew how to express my condolences. I didn't want to come out with excuses, defenses; I didn't want to hurt the family or anyone," Holloway said.
She said her path to recovery has allowed her to come to terms with what happened that night.
“I didn't wake up thinking anything about hurting anyone,” said Holloway.
13 Action News asked Holloway if the crash was an accident. However, she said her memory continues to be a blur.
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“If there [would’ve been] an opportunity to avoid it, I would have avoided it," Holloway said.
Holloway claims she and her daughter drove from Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, California.
She said the drive from LA to Las Vegas was a "blur" but did remember running over people.
"There was a body that hit my windshield, this is the first thing I recall, and then there are people banging on my car then I blanked out,” Holloway.
The accused driver claims she had no control over body or mind.
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“I saw a traffic light, but my windshield was scattered, and I looked out the passenger side, and I saw a turn so I turned and then I blanked out. Then I saw the [Tuscany Suites & Casino]. I'm laying down on the ground, and my daughter is standing next to me, and the car is smoking, and I blank out," explained Holloway.
Holloway has not seen nor heard from her daughter since.
Holloway told 13 Action News she was in isolation for weeks after the tragic crash, and later was informed by investigators one of the victims, Jessica Valenzuela, had died.
"It wasn't intentional," said Holloway.
Valenzuela was with her husband celebrating her 10-year-anniversary, she left three kids behind.
Holloway wants the Valenzuela family to know she is sorry; the last three years she’s struggled to understand what had happened and found it hard to find the right words to say.
Lakeisha Holloway will be in court for trial in July 2019.
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