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‘Drug intoxication’ may have led to death of 32-year-old at Burning Man
Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office officials have now claimed Leon Reece of Truckee, California, had drugs in his system
Drugs are believed to be the cause of death of one person who died at Burning Man, authorities claimed. On September 1, a doctor pronounced Leon Reece of Truckee, California dead. Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office officials have now claimed that the man, 32, had drugs in his system, according to New York Post.
“The cause and manner of death are pending investigation, but drug intoxication is suspected,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement
Pershing County Sheriff’s officials said that although deputies arrived at about 6:24 pm, they could not immediately get to Leon. His manner and cause of death are pending, and an autopsy is being conducted. Law enforcement officials confirmed that an investigation is underway. Six to eight months may be required to complete Leon’s toxicology results.
At the time of Leon’s death, a huge rainstorm had turned the festival site into a mud pit as thousands of festivalgoers were preparing to attend the event. Attendees have now made a mass exodus from the Nevada desert. Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen said that attendees “lashed out” at each other during the exodus after waiting for eight hours before they could leave.
“As usually happens in what Burners refer to as the ‘default world’ people allow their emotions to override their reasonableness and they are lashing out at each other as they leave the playa and attempt to make it to their next destination,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Oliver Anthony, the country artist behind ‘Rich Men North of Richmond,' is said to be among those who are trapped at the festival. He was schduled to be interviewed by the journal ‘Midwestern Marx’ on Sunday, September 3. The show's presenters later said in a live stream that he was “trapped” at Burning Man.
“Our man Oliver Anthony has been trapped in the flooding at Burning Man, this is what he told us over email,” one of the show’s three hosts said. “Oliver’s representative told us that he’ll be out there for at least another day. So honestly, right now, we’re mostly just concerned with his safety and hopefully he can make it out of this situation safe and then we can reschedule the interview for a different time.”
