Coroner suspects drug intoxication in Burning Man attendee’s death.
Tragedy Strikes at Burning Man Festival Amidst Heavy Rainstorm
In the midst of a torrential rainstorm that trapped tens of thousands of people at Burning Man, a tragic death has been reported, suspected to be due to drug intoxication.
Leon Reece, a 32-year-old from Truckee, California, was pronounced dead late on September 1st after being discovered unresponsive at the 2023 Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
Despite the rain causing delays in accessing the area where Reece was found, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office has stated that weather did not appear to be a factor in his death.
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On September 5th, officials from the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office announced the preliminary results of Mr. Reece’s death.
“The cause and manner of death are pending investigation, but drug intoxication is suspected,” the office said in a statement.
The festival had been closed to vehicles due to over half an inch of rain on September 1st, causing flooding and deep mud. More heavy rain followed on September 2nd, leaving attendees in a virtual lockdown and advised to conserve food, water, and fuel.
After a 2 p.m. announcement, thousands of people began their departure from the Burning Man site on September 4th, marking a mass exodus as they were informed they could leave by vehicle.
Amidst the congestion, organizers asked attendees to consider delaying their departure until September 5th to alleviate traffic throughout the day.
“We’ve made it really clear that we do not see this as an evacuation situation,” Ms. Goodell told NBC News on September 3rd. “The water is drying up.”
The event began on August 27th and was scheduled to end on the morning of September 4th, with attendees responsible for packing up and cleaning up after themselves.
Organizers also requested that attendees not walk out of the Black Rock Desert, about 110 miles north of Reno, as some had done throughout the weekend, without specifying the reason.
Typically, the event reaches its peak with the burning of a massive wooden effigy known as “the Man” and a temple structure on the final two evenings. However, this year, these burnings were delayed as officials worked to clear exit paths by the end of the Labor Day weekend.
On Monday night, “The Man” was set ablaze, while the burning of the temple is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
The event’s website notes that each year, upwards of 60,000 people travel to the remote region in northwest Nevada for art, dance, and community.
This year, local news sources…
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