More than 100 taken to hospitals during Electric Daisy Carnival
More than 100 people were taken to hospitals and dozens were arrested during a two-day electronic music festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and at Exposition Park, authorities said.
The 14th annual Electric Daisy Carnival, which featured carnival rides, five stages and performances by Moby, Will.i.am, Steve Aoki and Deadmau5, drew a total of 185,000 people on Friday and Saturday, said Alexandra Greenberg, a publicist for the event.
Because of the size of the event, paramedics were stationed at an on-site command post, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devin Gales said. Over the two days, 226 injuries were reported, 114 of which required attention at hospitals.
No deaths were reported, and the extent of the injuries was not known.
Some injuries were a result of people rushing gates in an attempt to overwhelm security and get inside without the required $75 ticket. Some attendees who had tickets were seen climbing barriers to VIP sections.
Greenberg declined to comment about the arrests and injuries. An Exposition Park safety official also said he could not comment.
Andres Casas, 30, was sitting in the stands of the at-capacity Coliseum about 7 p.m. Saturday when he saw hundreds surge onto the field, climbing fences and trampling food and drink tents.
“It was like a waterfall of people,” he said. “They actually had to stop the music and the emcee yelled to stop acting like fools.”
The Los Angeles Police Department had a heavy presence at the event, deploying at least two helicopters and stationing officers along the perimeter of the venue. The department reported 63 people arrested Saturday night, nine of them juveniles. Offenses included possession and sale of narcotics, trespassing and drinking in public.
The Electric Daisy Carnival was held from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. both days and was open to ages 16 and up. It was produced by Insomniac Events, an L.A.-based promotions company that also hosts a similar New Year’s Eve event.
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