Coliseum officials suspend raves after teen girl’s death at Electric Daisy Carnival
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The following is an excerpt from a story that will appear in tomorrow’s Los Angeles Times.
When the Electric Daisy Carnival — a massive dance party with top-name acts — rolled into town last weekend, officials thought they were prepared, this time.
There were rows of ambulances ready outside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Nearby hospitals raised their staff to levels that are used for ‘multi-casualty incidents,’ such as train crashes. The Los Angeles Police Department used twice as many officers as are usually deployed at USC football games. Crash-proof fences were installed to guard against crowd surges and an investigator from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was stationed at the command post.
But was it enough?
The suspected drug overdose death on Tuesday evening of a 15-year-old girl who had attended the event came on the heels of reports that hundreds had tried to crash the gates and scores were taken by ambulance to nearby emergency rooms, most with symptoms of drug intoxication.
On Wednesday, as criticism mounted, Coliseum officials announced a temporary ban on new contracts with rave operators as they consider whether to allow another such event.
‘The general public deserves to be assured that when the Coliseum’s tenants stage an event, the health and safety of the promoter’s patrons are protected,’ Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who serves on the joint state, county and city commission that oversees the Coliseum, said in a letter calling for a temporary halt to such events. ‘Clearly, there was a breakdown at the Electric Daisy Carnival which put the public at risk.’
The death Tuesday of Sasha Rodriguez, a high school student and drill team member from Atwater Village, was the latest in a string of high-profile problems at raves held in public venues — problems that already had attracted the attention of the CDC.
Last month, the CDC reported at least 18 Ecstasy overdoses at a New Year’s rave at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, next to the Coliseum. Two men died of suspected overdoses during a Memorial Day weekend rave at the Cow Palace in Daly City, south of San Francisco.
At the Electric Daisy Carnival, held for the 14th year, Los Angeles police made 118 arrests, mostly for drug possession. Deputy Police Chief Pat Gannon said he had 40 plainclothes detectives working the show — and added that ‘if I had 1,000 I would have made 1,000 arrests it was so packed with drugs.’
Officials from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said they have filed 34 felony drug charges in connection with the event. In addition, 25 cases alleging possession with intent to sell have been referred to the L.A. city attorney’s office.
Los Angeles has perhaps the most thriving rave scene in the nation, and the Electric Daisy Carnival is billed as North America’s largest dance event. Promoters said 185,000 attended over two days. Raves are known for mixing a stew of electronic music, special effects and, frequently, narcotics, to fuel dancers for hours. Many who attended the event said the crowd was friendly and mellow.
Technically, anyone who was under 16 had to be accompanied by an adult — but Gannon said there was no evidence that anyone was checking attendees’ identification.
Los Angeles-based Insomniac Inc., the festival’s producer, called Sasha’s death ‘a tragic circumstance’ in a statement Wednesday.
‘Our hearts and prayers go out to her family and friends at this difficult time,’ the statement said. ‘We are currently reviewing the entire event and planning process with our security team, law enforcement and the city officials who participated in organizing and planning Electric Daisy Carnival.’
Insomniac declined to discuss the issue further.
Crowds rush a fence at the Electric Daisy Carnival. (John W. Adkisson / Los Angeles Times)