The Scoop:
UPDATE 11:54 A.M. SXSW has released an official statement on last night’s tragedy, which left 23 injured and 2 deceased.
“The SXSW staff is stunned and deeply moved by the events of last night.
Dozens of us were on the scene when the incident occurred and we worked closely with APD to create a perimeter around the area, turning back all the visitors spilling out of the clubs who headed north on Red River Street.
To avoid confusion we plan to carry on with our scheduled daytime events at the Austin Convention Center in order to serve our tens of thousands of participants during this tragic time.
All of the SXSW staff and volunteers reported for their regular duties this morning and will continue working today on the event.
We are contacting all of the venues to find out if they have made any decisions about their operations that might impact our visitors.
Despite all of our preparations for dealing with a major incident during SXSW, nothing could really prepare us for how this feels. As much as we would like to just go home and spend time absorbing the shock of this horrific event, we feel our best use is to continue to operate today.
One of the fatalities was a SXSW registrant, a gentleman from the Netherlands.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and with the families of the fatalities.”
UPDATE 10:29 A.M. Kathy Blackwell, senior editor at Austin American-Statesman, has tweeted a detailed map-description of the events leading up to the tragedy in Austin last night. Also, the Statesman has posted a video of the police-news briefing that was held earlier this morning, which you can check out, along with the map, below.
UPDATE 1:56 A.M. According to police down in Austin, 23 have been injured and transported, and 5 of those are in critical condition. Two fatalities have been confirmed.
23 individuals have been transported. Of those 5 are in critical condition, 2 deceased. #SXSW
— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) March 13, 2014
Original Post Tragedy has struck at this year’s South By Southwest music festival as an apparent drunk driver has driven through a crowd of people in line at the Mohawk. According to a tweet SPIN, there are two fatalities recorded at the moment, and the driver is in custody. You can check out a series of tweets from SPIN detailing their viewpoint of the incident below.
Car plowed through the closed-off block of East 9th and East 10 on Red River, cop car following. Two people are still on the ground.
— SPIN (@SPINmagazine) March 13, 2014
According to an eyewitness, a grey sedan with a smashed windshield went through a crowd and hit at least 20 people. Facts still forthcoming.
— SPIN (@SPINmagazine) March 13, 2014
Red River between 9th and 10th now pic.twitter.com/Gvt8m8N0ow
— SPIN (@SPINmagazine) March 13, 2014
Red River, earlier pic.twitter.com/dYulKNvFBx
— SPIN (@SPINmagazine) March 13, 2014
According to a police source at the scene, two people are dead and the vehicle operator is in police custody.
— SPIN (@SPINmagazine) March 13, 2014
The Spin: We currently have no official statements from anyone involved, as this is breaking at this point in time. Be sure to stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter pages as we will be updating you with the latest details on the situation as soon as we receive word.
The Question: What do you think of the situation? Are you attending this year’s SXSW Festival? Let us know in the comments below!
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[…] tragedy that took place when a drunk driver ran from police and drove through a crowd of people, injuring 23, and killing what is now three people. You can check out a tweet from the official Austin, Texas police department […]