Another music festival, another tragedy. After SXSW was plagued by multiple violent incidents this year, Miami's Ultra Music Festival met a similar fate when revelers crashed a gate, leaving a security guard with severe brain hemorrhaging and a broken leg.
Erica Mack is in stable yet critical condition after she was trampled by the hordes that stormed into the venue. "She was not strong enough to deal with a mob of people that actually pushed this fence down, pushing her backwards and the fence landing on top of her," Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Ignatius Carroll told the Miami Herald. The paper reports that police had requested that the fence be reinforced earlier in the day, but festival organizers did not comply.
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
Contemporary Services Corporation, the company that employs the 28-year-old Mack, released a statement in regards to the incident. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred this weekend at Ultra Music Festival," the security company wrote. "We will continue to keep Erica Mack and her loved ones in our thoughts and prayers as we closely monitor her condition." Ultra's organizers also expressed regret and condolences via a statement, but that hasn't stopped the backlash against the electronic music festival from reaching new heights.
"What happened this weekend is an event that could have been avoided," said Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, also to the Herald. "The organizers of Ultra did not follow the police directive to reinforce the fence, even though they knew that this year, and the year before, some kids have tried to over run the fences." Festival organizers have always had a contentious relationship with the city of Miami, and if it were up to the mayor, this would be the annual gathering's swan song. He didn't mince words on the subject, saying: "I think we should not have Ultra next year here." (SPIN)
Photo: via Ultra/Instagram.