Dennis RomeroA teenage raver who perished after attending the Hard Summer festival in Pomona died from MDMA “intoxication,” a coroner's official said today.
No other drugs were mentioned in the toxicology report for 18-year-old Tracy Nguyen of West Covina, he said.
Ecstasy deaths have plagued electronic dance music festivals over the years. Some in the rave scene have responded by calling for pill testing, which suggests pure MDMA, aka ecstasy and molly, is safe, and that adulterated drugs are mostly to blame.
Multiple cases like Nguyen's, however, point only to ecstasy as a fatal culprit.
Hers was one of two deaths connected to the Hard festival, held Aug. 1 and 2 at the county-run Fairplex in Pomona. Nguyen reportedly collapsed on-site. Katie Dix, a 19-year-old from Camarillo, died after she was reportedly found unconscious at the event.
The cause of death in Dix's case is still unknown as her toxicology report has not been completed, the coroner's official said. We reported previously that the investigations into the deaths of Nguyen and Dix were hampered by lack of personnel at the coroner's department.
The deaths prompted a proposal by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis to ban raves or EDM festivals at county venues such as the Fairplex. The Board of Supervisors ultimately decided not to do that after the Beverly Hills–based organizer of Hard, Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter, instituted new safety measures, including a 21-and-older age limit.
After the August event Live Nation addressed the tragic loss of two teenagers.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to their families and friends,” the company stated.
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