Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Man dies on Night 2 of EDC; could be months before cause is determined

More than 400 people require minor medical attention, and 7 others taken to area hospitals; 26 drug arrests made

2015 EDC: First Night

L.E. Baskow

The refilling station is in full swing amid high temperatures during the first night of the 2015 Electric Daisy Carnival on Friday, June 19, 2015, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Updated Sunday, June 21, 2015 | 4:57 p.m.

2015 EDC: Night 2

Festival goers take a break during day two of the 2015 Electric Daisy Carnival, Saturday, June 20, 2015. Launch slideshow »

2015 EDC: First Night

Fans wait as the beat picks up while taking in Arty at the Circuit Grounds during the first night of EDC at the Las Vegas Speedway on Saturday, June 20, 2015. Launch slideshow »

2015 EDC: Night 1

Night 1 of the 2015 Electric Daisy Carnival on Friday, June 19, 2015, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Launch slideshow »

One man died and seven people were transported to area hospitals on Night 2 of Las Vegas' 2015 Electrical Daisy Carnival.

Details about the fatality, which was reported in Metro Police's statistical summary of the night, were not immediately available.

Clark County coroner's investigator Derek Dubasik told the Associated Press on Sunday afternoon that the office was still working to positively identify the 24-year-old man and notify his family members of his death.

"Based on the location and circumstances involved (in the death), it'll take four to eight weeks before we'll have toxicology results back and can determine the cause of death," Dubasik told the AP.

When contacted for comment, Insomniac Productions, the company that runs the festival, directed the Sun to Dave Kirvin of Kirvin Doak Communications, who said Insomniac has no information to release about the fatality and any future information will come from the Clark County coroner's office. Contacted by the Sun on Sunday afternoon, the coroner's office could not provide further details.

Kirvin forwarded the following statement released by Insomniac:

"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. Tonight and every night, we ask all of our fans to take care of themselves and one another."

Three people died at last year's event. Joey Saychack, 21, of Fresno, Calif., was found unresponsive in a Las Vegas home he reportedly was renting with a group that planned to attend the electric dance music festival. He died at Spring Valley Hospital five days later. Montgomery Tsang, 25, of California, also died after being taken to University Medical Center after reportedly collapsing in the festival parking lot, and Anthony Anaya, 25, of Everett, Wash., who also attended the festival, died after he was found unconscious at the Vdara.

In 2012, a 31-year-old Florida man attending EDC died after being hit by a truck while leaving the speedway and a 22-year-old University of Arizona student fell from the 27th floor of her hotel room. The woman was found to have Ecstasy and traces of methamphetamine and gamma-hydroxybutyrate in her system, and her death was ruled an accident.

Altogether, 408 carnivalgoers at this year's event required minor medical attention on Night 2, nearly 100 less medical calls than the first night of the three-day festival.

About 135,000 attendees made their way to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday night. They endured temperatures that hit a high of 113 degrees, which ties the record high temperature set in 1961, the National Weather Service said.

The expected high Sunday was 112 degrees, 12 degrees above the average high temperature for this time of year, meteorologist Chris Outler said.

On the EDC website, festival officials stress staying hydrated by stopping for free water at hydration stations throughout the festival grounds (marked with water droplet symbols on festival maps) or by purchasing water from on-site vendors. According to the site, there also are first aid tents located throughout the festival where attendees can receive free medical care, in addition to a roaming Insomniac Health & Safety Team.

Despite heavy traffic getting to and leaving the event, there was only one traffic accident related to the carnival, Metro Police said.

Insomniac kicked 69 people out of the event, and 35 people left the speedway in handcuffs. From 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. this morning, there were 26 narcotics-related felony arrests, eight misdemeanor arrests and one DUI arrest, Metro Police said. There were an additional five misdemeanor citations.

This is the fifth year EDC has been held in Las Vegas.

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