Death happens, every day. So why should festivals be different? Well, as the news of a second death at Bonnaroo emerges, there's now a giant 'what's next?' to consider. Maybe this blows over. Or maybe, because of drug-related reasons, it doesn't.
Maybe you think Bonnaroo is untouchable. But this is America,a society that remains staunchly committed to its War on Drugs. And one that blows billions stuffing jails on drug-related offenses. That's another story entirely, though community reactions are unpredictable in these sorts of situations. Just look at Los Angeles of all places, which forced the relocation of Electric Daisy Carnival to Las Vegas after a drug-related death (among other drug-related and disturbance issues). And, almost banned all raves in the process.
Back in Tennessee, here's what we know so far, as of Monday evening. The deceased is 24-year-old Christopher Yoder of Raleigh, North Carolina, who succumbed to complications related to hyperthermia. Unsurprisingly, that's a condition in which the body essentially overheats, which sounds plausible in a scorching, 90 degrees-plus environment like Bonnaroo.
That follows the death of 32-year-old Beth Myers, who was found dead in one of the Bonnaroo tents on Thursday evening. That was apparently a heat-related situation as well, though in both cases, toxicology and autopsy results remain forthcoming.
In other words, both could easily be connected to drug overdoses, which certainly sounds plausible in a dusty, overheated and dehydrating atmosphere like Bonnaroo. We know drugs are everywhere at Bonnaroo; and if you're into music, you're probably highly tolerant (or a user yourself). But what happens if that's what killed these people?
More details are being released in the coming days, according to local officials. Let's see.
Maybe you think Bonnaroo is untouchable. But this is America,a society that remains staunchly committed to its War on Drugs. And one that blows billions stuffing jails on drug-related offenses. That's another story entirely, though community reactions are unpredictable in these sorts of situations. Just look at Los Angeles of all places, which forced the relocation of Electric Daisy Carnival to Las Vegas after a drug-related death (among other drug-related and disturbance issues). And, almost banned all raves in the process.
Back in Tennessee, here's what we know so far, as of Monday evening. The deceased is 24-year-old Christopher Yoder of Raleigh, North Carolina, who succumbed to complications related to hyperthermia. Unsurprisingly, that's a condition in which the body essentially overheats, which sounds plausible in a scorching, 90 degrees-plus environment like Bonnaroo.
That follows the death of 32-year-old Beth Myers, who was found dead in one of the Bonnaroo tents on Thursday evening. That was apparently a heat-related situation as well, though in both cases, toxicology and autopsy results remain forthcoming.
In other words, both could easily be connected to drug overdoses, which certainly sounds plausible in a dusty, overheated and dehydrating atmosphere like Bonnaroo. We know drugs are everywhere at Bonnaroo; and if you're into music, you're probably highly tolerant (or a user yourself). But what happens if that's what killed these people?
More details are being released in the coming days, according to local officials. Let's see.
