Teenage girl dies of suspected drug overdose after attending weekend rave at L.A. Coliseum [Updated]

A 15-year-old girl has died of a suspected drug overdose after attending a rave over the weekend at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a hospital official said Tuesday.

The girl was one of two rave attendees who were in critical condition at California Hospital Medical Center after the 14th annual Electric Daisy Carnival. According to the event's website, guests had to be at least 16 to attend, raising questions about how the girl gained admission.

She and the other critically ill patient had been taken to the downtown Los Angeles hospital by ambulance directly from the venue, officials said. Both were treated for drug intoxication in the  intensive care unit.

“She came in as an emergency patient from the rave. She was in respiratory arrest when she got here, and she never recovered,” said Katreena Salgado, a spokeswoman for the hospital.

Salgado said the 15-year old girl arrived non-responsive and never woke up. She died shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A full determination of the drugs in the dead teen's system will not be known until an autopsy and toxicology tests are completed. 

[Updated at 5:50 p.m.: Pat Lynch, who manages the Coliseum, was stunned to learn of the death Tuesday.

“Oh, no. Oh, my God,” Lynch said. “I don’t know what to say. That’s just terrible.”

When asked how a 15-year-old was able to get into the event when the minimum age for entry was 16, Lynch said he needed to investigate.

"I'm at a loss," Lynch said. "... Sixteen is what the promoter requested, and I just don’t know….  I've got to  find that information."]

The event, held Friday and Saturday, drew about 185,000 people to carnival rides, five stages and performances by Moby, Will.i.am, Steve Aoki and Deadmau5. About 120 required transport to local hospitals, mostly for drug intoxication.

The volume of patients in need of hospital care led several emergency room physicians on Monday to call for an end to raves at the Coliseum.

Cathy Chidester, director of the county Emergency Medical Systems agency, said Monday that officials treat raves at the Coliseum like a "multi-casualty incident," which she said was similar to planning for a disaster like the Chatsworth Metrolink train crash, which killed 25 and left more than 130 others injured.

Tuesday's death was the latest in a string of high-profile problems at raves held at public venues. Earlier this year, at least 18 drug overdoses tied to Ecstasy were reported at a New Year's Eve rave at the Los Angeles Sports Arena — next to the Coliseum. And two men died of suspected drug overdoses during a Memorial Day weekend rave at the Cow Palace in Daly City, south of San Francisco.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II

Comments

[Jon K.]

It's not a rave. It's a music festival.

At least get your terminology right.

185,000 attend the event. There's one tragedy and that's what the media focuses on to generate fear-mongering.

Ridiculous.

What about her parents? What were they doing allowing a 15 year old girl to attend an event that massive? Where's the personal responsibility?

[Jon K.]

The author also failed to mention that out of 185,000 people of different races, ages, backgrounds, etc. There was a commonality of friendliness and mutual respect that one almost NEVER sees on a day-to-day basis.

These kind of events give the people who attend them hope for a better world beyond the mean-spirited, cynical one we are forced to struggle through. How is that so bad?

[Dirk]

Eerie how the warning about this was made on Monday.

[BANDIT]

All raves should be 18+ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jack herery]

Terrible tragedy, but what is wrong with these promoters? Raves are known to have a high incident of drug use, and therefore these events should be 18+. No minors should be allowed, both for their safety, as well as the promoters' legal safety. Plus, having been to a few raves myself, the under-18s are the ones who generally do not know how to handle themselves.

[jack herery]

Terrible tragedy, but what is wrong with these promoters? Raves are known to have a high incident of drug use, and therefore these events should be 18+. No minors should be allowed, both for their safety, as well as the promoters' legal safety. Plus, having been to a few raves myself, the under-18s are the ones who generally do not know how to handle themselves.

[Carlos M.]

If this doesn't end these raves at the Coliseum, I don't know what will.

I hope the city steps in and bans these events from any government-owned venue. Let a private venue host these drug-filled events.

[donfitness]

So many people in this city celebrate drugs. It's constantly joked about in the movies and TV shows we watch. Yet, everyone always acts SOoo SHOCKED! when someone dies from drugs. Like it was such an unexpected tragedy. Drugs are ruining our society and way of life. It's all around us and it can be stopped, if we want to.

[LEXUSRY]

THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO THIS TYPE OF EVENT. THERE WILL BE NEW LAWSUIT FOR THIS GIRL FAMILY SOON.

[khum Dom]

Wow, was it her first time? Or the last of many. She should've just gone to the movies and had some popcorn like her parents suggested.

[I Know A Rave When I See One]

To Jon K:

I'm sorry, that's not a music festival. Coachella is a music festival, Sasquatch is a music festival, Outside Lands is a music festival --- EDC is a RAVE. You don't see people showing up with fuzzy boots and lightsticks and beaded bracelets and pacifiers to a music festival. (Well, maybe at Coachella in the RAVE TENT, but that's why it's called the "rave tent" by attendees.)

There are no rock acts at EDC; they are all electronic/trance/house "artists." I dunno about you, but that sounds like rave music to me. You're kidding yourself if you think people go to this to "listen" to the "music." It all sounds the same --- bass, breakdown, buildup, synth lines, sampled female vox.

Poor girl, I wonder what her parents THOUGHT she was doing. I have some friends who have gotten sucked into the rave scene; it isn't pretty. I have 26 year old friends who go to these events and get high on E/Molly/whatever. I don't see the appeal and I think they should be regulated --- ESPECIALLY MADE 21+!

[Matt]

I love the people in this world who think it's ok to experiment with drugs and alcohol. NOTHING good ever comes out of the use of these substances...EVER. They simply destroy lives.

[Matt]

I love the people in this world who think it's ok to experiment with drugs and alcohol. NOTHING good ever comes out of the use of these substances...EVER. They simply destroy lives.

[unknown]

As far as my understanding the event promoted a drug free enviroment, no one is allowed to bring drugs in nor encouraged to do so. If these kids take drugs before entering the event theres really nothing that can be done,these kids have taken these drugs on there own free will, no one has forced them to. You cant put EDC to blame for these kids actions.

[Jamie]

She likely had other conditions, like an unknown heart condition, and these events should be 18+. Dont blame the rave because your trying to shut down what you see as anti establishment events. People die in car crashes by the thousands, yet we still use them. This is unfortunate and Iv seen young ignorant teenagers who took too much drugs because they had no idea what they were doing. I had one collapse in my arms after she told me she had four pills on her first time (I was sober). I told her to immediately go vomit before they kicked in. She didnt listen but she was ok in the end. These events are otherwise a place where most people come together to celebrate in joy and freedom. Many w/o drugs like myself. Its unfortunate its all judged and presented with tid bits of the story. Drugs are not the evil, its the people behind them who use them ingorantly and irresponsibly.

[Jamie]

She likely had other conditions, like an unknown heart condition, and these events should be 18+. Dont blame the rave because your trying to shut down what you see as anti establishment events. People die in car crashes by the thousands, yet we still use them. This is unfortunate and Iv seen young ignorant teenagers who took too much drugs because they had no idea what they were doing. I had one collapse in my arms after she told me she had four pills on her first time (I was sober). I told her to immediately go vomit before they kicked in. She didnt listen but she was ok in the end. These events are otherwise a place where most people come together to celebrate in joy and freedom. Many w/o drugs like myself. Its unfortunate its all judged and presented with tid bits of the story. Drugs are not the evil, its the people behind them who use them ingorantly and irresponsibly.

[Bonny]

BREAKING NEWS: Dopehead dies from using dope!

Thanks for the news.

[John]

I attended both days of this event (EDC).

This is the truth,
Yes mostly everyone was on drugs, 90% on ecstasy...

All i got to say about this is, if you going to use that drug, use is carefully....
I just don't understand how these overdoses happen...

We all know our bodies...
Think people.

[Mike]

This was NOT a rave!

Raves do not end at 2am!
Raves do not advertise in city newspapers!

This was a music festival through-and-through. And it wasn't only techno acts. Travis Barker played. Will.i.am played. Lil Jon played.

Stop blaming the music. Blame the drug dealer who sold to a 15 year old and blame the parents.

I was there. I'm an adult. But there were LOTS of under-18's there. Most of the ones that I talked to not only had their parents' blessings to go, most parents actually bought their kids the tickets.

[Jack]

I guess the girl didnt get the memo. Drugs are bad

[Rick]

Looks like the promoters under estimated the security for this event and it was not well planned. People should not be stampeding the fences and climbing over like what I saw on the news. What did the promoter expect a bunch of unarmed security guards to do. Every little detail most be worked out or you are going to get what happened. They are probably going to get sued now.

[Tim]

I get what your saying Jon but lets be real almost all those people were rolling or on some other drug at EDC. Would you be happy that your kid does drugs to escape this "cynical world" we live in. But some how you thing a gathering of that mass wherre over 90% of the people were on something is a beautiful thing.

[LAQueen]

i live across the street from the coliseum..it was a rave! there was emergency vehicles coming out of there every 10 minutes. it was a trashy event unlike any other multitude of events that occur at the coliseum. this event should not be taking place in city property. because they called it a music festival makes no difference.i hope it doesn't come back. cdc had a recent report of drug overdoses because of these type of events....take the event to a facility near the homes of the priviledged kids that participated in the "music festival"..

[Coda]

Exactly it is a music festival, it is very sad about the young girl but where were her parents when she attended, it is not anyone's blame for anyones injury.

[Jon K.]

Tim,

I was at the event and the level of intoxication was not that bad. It wasn't Sodom and Gommoreah out there.

The media just over-reacts to this stuff.

Is this a tragedy? Of course. But why blame her personal choice on the promoter. He didn't force drugs down her throat.

Why isn't the title "Parents Allow 15 Year Old Girl To Attend Massive Music Festival Unchaperoned"?

Should these events be 18 and over? Yes. I think they should. Still, the media bias is so disgustingly reactionary. If it bleeds it leads.