man dies @ Warped Tour, people petitioning for cheaper water
The Vans Warped Tour hit Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone in Bonner Springs [August 2nd] with additional performances by artists like Taylor Momsen’s The Pretty Reckless, Alkaline Trio, Andrew W.K. and Mike Posner.
But the all-day event ended in tragedy when it emerged one man had died after falling ill at the show.
The victim, Curtis Alan DeForest, a 26-year-old resident of Wichita, Kansas, was taken by ambulance to the Providence Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
A cause of death has yet to be established and a police investigation is now underway. [Toronto Sun]
In a statement on Twitter, Warped Tour organizers addressed speculation that 100 degree heat and a lack of readily available water may have led to dehydration…
“There is no confirmation this was due to dehydration, cardiac, other substances, etc. We do provide first aid to anyone who needs it. If this was due to dehydration, the tour is not responsible for water prices and we change venue rules to allow you to bring it in with you. What’s happened today is an unforeseeable tragedy that shouldn’t have happened. We are all upset and shocked and our hearts are heavy. Please remember to be responsible when you are at an event like this. At ANY possible sign of a problem, PLEASE contact a venue member.”
[via Punknews.org]
As Punknews points out, Bridge9, one of the labels that had a booth at the Kansas stop, tweeted that day about the venue’s excessive water prices (see above) (note: the $10 price is not confirmed. they may have been exaggerating to make a point). So far 1,236 people have signed a petition to reduce water prices at the Warped Tour.
The venue, Sandstone Amphitheater, also issued a statement that offered condolences and outlined their water policy. That’s below…
Sandstone Amphitheater Statement
Curtis Alan DeForest, age 26 of Wichita, Kansas, a patron attending yesterday’s Van’s Warped Tour at the amphitheater was transported to Providence Medical Center where he later passed away. An investigation by the Bonner Springs Police Department and the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office is ongoing. The cause of death has yet to be determined and the venue is working closely with authorities to aid in their investigation.
As is the standard practice at all shows that visit the Amphitheater, patrons were allowed to bring in their own bottles of water. Once inside, the permanent water refill locations that are throughout the venue were in operation for all patrons to access throughout the day. In preparation for the heat, additional measures were taken by the venue including the positioning of misting stations for fans, additional water refill stations as well as shade throughout the wooded venue.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. DeForest.
The Van’s Warped tour is a national traveling show making stops in over 40 cities throughout the US and Canada. It has been a staple of the Kansas City Music scene for years and has been hosted the last 8+ years at Sandstone.
