Timothy Ambacher has not frequently thought about the tragic crash that unfolded nearly ten years ago on the Las Vegas Strip.
Ambacher was a sophomore at Delaware Valley University back in December 2015 when he traveled to Las Vegas for a wrestling competition.
The incident resulted in one death and harmed several others, including Ambacher.
Initially, the memory haunted him, leading to nightmares that disrupted his sleep for years.
“It was pretty devastating at the time,” he reflected in a recent interview.
However, he began to move on with his life and assumed that Lakeisha Holloway, the individual implicated in the crash, had been tried and found guilty.
To his surprise, Holloway, who is now 34, still awaits trial, which is set for September 2026.
Since her arrest, she has undergone multiple competency evaluations at state psychiatric facilities.
In a recent jailhouse interview, Holloway expressed her frustration over the delays in her trial, which she attributed to changing attorneys and time spent in mental health facilities.
“I wish I could rewind the hands of time,” she said, now identified as Paris Morton.
“I wish no one had to feel this pain.”
Despite her efforts to move forward, the crash continues to affect her daily life.
“I live it every day,” she stated.
On December 20, 2015, Holloway found herself in a crisis, having lived in her car with her 3-year-old daughter for about a week in Las Vegas.
Detectives reported that she had been forcibly removed from several locations where she sought refuge.
Holloway allegedly drove her Oldsmobile sedan onto the sidewalk in front of Planet Hollywood, continuing down the pavement until veering off near Horseshoe Las Vegas.
The incident claimed the life of 32-year-old Jessica Valenzuela, who was trapped under Holloway’s vehicle for at least 200 yards.
Thirty-five other individuals were injured, including three suffering from critical head injuries.
According to a Metropolitan Police Department arrest report, Holloway remembered a body bouncing off her windshield during the incident.
Ambacher recounted that he and his wrestling teammates were headed to the movies that night after leaving the Flamingo hotel when the crash occurred.
He described hearing screams and seeing the car just before it collided with them.
“I was tossed over the vehicle and landed in the street,” he recalled.
It took Ambacher some time to comprehend the chaotic scene and realize what had transpired.
Following the crash, he and his teammates sprang into action, attending to those injured around them.
“We checked on people to make sure they were OK, wrapped them in blankets that an ambulance brought, and helped gather belongings,” he said.
Ambacher was eventually taken to the hospital, along with his coaches and teammates, where he received treatment for injuries including glass cuts and trauma to his head and back.
He credited his athleticism for a swift recovery.
During her recent interview, Holloway evaded some questions regarding the crash but insisted it was not intentional.
She admitted to using marijuana days prior but noted that court records do not show any DUI charges against her.
The slow progression of Holloway’s legal case is seen as unusual.
For context, Yoni Barrios, responsible for a 2022 stabbing spree on the Strip that resulted in two deaths, faced and resolved his case, despite similar mental health challenges.
He was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including murder, not long ago.
Holloway’s attorney, Monti Levy, cited her client’s ongoing competency issues as the primary reason for the delays along with setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
There has been no response from the Clark County district attorney’s office regarding the matter.
Levy remarked on the difficulties Holloway has faced while in custody, highlighting allegations of abuse she stated she experienced during hospitalizations.
Holloway recounted experiences including being attacked by a fellow patient and assault by a staff member.
The accused staff member, Charles Wilgens, faces charges related to abuse against Holloway and has been reassigned to non-patient care duties at Stein Forensic Hospital.
Holloway continues to seek solace within her circumstances, stating that she writes and plans to publish an autobiography soon.
Additionally, she prays for her daughter, who was present during the crash and whom she has not seen since that fateful day.
She emphasized her desire for closure, insisting that she does not wish for people to perceive her as solely self-focused.
“It was a tragic event and I acknowledge that,” Holloway concluded.
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