LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A family on vacation was left stranded after their car was stolen from a Las Vegas Strip hotel on Christmas Eve.
The car was crashed and abandoned. Now, it’s being held in impound as evidence.
The family has no idea when they will get it back or what shape it is even in.
“I am just absolutely devastated,” shared Melissa Goins. After a dream holiday vacation her family, Goins is now dealing with a nightmare: no transportation, the family only had one car.
“We have a family of four and it’s me, my wife and our two boys, and we use that vehicle to get my son from developmental preschool to occupational therapy, to feeding therapy, as well as my wife uses vehicle for work,” Goins explained. The family made the drive up to Vegas from Scottsdale, AZ and stayed at a Strip hotel before an international flight.
“Over the holidays, my family and I decided that we were going to fly from Harry Reid international airport to Kelowna, Canada, because my oldest son lives in Bullhead City,” Goins stated. They left the car in the hotel parking garage as they planned to stay there again after flying back but a shocking call from a Metro officer ruined their holiday.
“Christmas Eve morning at 2 a.m., it’s a 702 phone number I don’t recognize but I figure I need to answer. [The car] was in a hit-and-run collision, abandoned on Lamb in Washington. I was out of the country in Canada and unable to do anything,” Goins recalled. Goins was stunned because she had added a security system to her Hyundai after learning many were being stolen because of a social media challenge.
“I really tried to put on a brave face for my kids but when I found out, I just cried and cried,” Goins confessed.
The family’s car is being held for an ongoing investigation.
Metro tells FOX5 their investigation is still open. A person was arrested for DUI related to the crash, but it is unclear if it is the same person who stole the vehicle.
The family is relying on rideshare for now. There’s a fundraiser set up to help them.
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