Electric Daisy Carnival: 100-Degree Heat, 1 Death And 35 Arrests By Day 3
A 24-year-old man died at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas. The man reportedly died in Las Vegas where he was attending the annual electronic dance music festival that reportedly draws hundreds of thousands of attendees. The man died during the early hours of Sunday, June 21.
The man was one of the seven people transported to area hospitals, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The report also shows that there were 35 arrests made between the hours of 6 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday. There were 26 narcotics related arrests, five misdemeanor arrests, and one arrest for driving under the influence, according to the police report.
The three-night event of the Electric Daisy Carnival anticipated to draw as many as 400,000 attendees at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The music festival opened to temperatures rising at 111 degrees on Saturday, and were expected to drop slightly on Sunday night. The combination of drugs and/or alcohol and extreme temperatures can have devastating effects on people who attend the electronic dance festival, says Clark County Fire Chief Jon Klassen.
The Electric Daisy Carnival has ensured several safety precautions. Organizers hired “ground control” staff that helped sick or disoriented patrons out of the area. Law enforcement was also at the event to keep an out for safety among attendees. EDC also reminds attendees to “stay hydrated” at all times throughout much of the weekend. The cause behind the man’s death has not been confirmed yet. The Clark County coroner’s office has not yet released the man’s name or cause of death, according to CNN affiliate KTNV.
The Electric Daisy Carnival has issued a statement after the man’s death.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who passed away. The health and safety of our fans is Insomniac’s first priority and we take every measure to create a safe environment.
While the cause of this tragedy will take some time to determine, we ask that you keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”
The Electric Daisy Carnival’s closing also caused major traffic delays. Crowds leaving the venue caused major traffic congestion around the Speedway. Around 8 a.m., southbound traffic on Interstate 15 from the Speedway, along with North Las Vegas Boulevard, were heavily congested. According to Las Vegas Metro police, 512 medical calls were made, with 10 people taken to local area hospitals. Insomniac Productions, the official organizer for the Electric Daisy Carnival, said that 135,000 attended night three of the music festival, and that 48 people were removed from the venue.
[Image: Ethan Miller / Getty Images]
