The collapsed LED light panels on the Ultra Music Festival main stage. (Source: CBS4)
Reporting Marybel Rodriguez
In To Be Out: Gay Celebrities
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Ultra Music Festival went on as planned Friday despite a stage-related accident that sent three people to the hospital Thursday night.
Thousands of neon-clad revelers packed Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami for Ultra 15, the world’s largest electronic music festival.
“The music makes you move. You just don’t want to stop moving. Once I walk in that gate. I’m going to just jump around,” Chris Chapman said. The man from Houston was visiting Miami for his 30th birthday. It was his first time attending Ultra.
But for many others, this year’s festival was just another to add to a long list.
“This is going to be like my 6th year,” Priscilla Gonzalez said. “I’ve been coming since i was a sophomore in high school.”
Kristina Tollner has been to Ultra once before.
“Last year was the best weekend of my life, hands down,” Tollner told CBS 4′s Lauren Pastrana. “So I had to come back this year. I’m probably going to be coming back for 10 more years after this.”
Most people were just glad the festival was happening at all after an accident Thursday night that sent an LED light display crashing down on to the main stage, trapping stagehands below. Three people were rushed to the hospital. As of Friday afternoon, one man was still being treated. He’s expected to fully recover.
The Fire Marshall, structural engineers and OSHA representatives were called in to assess the damage to the stage and to make sure the others were structurally sound.
“All 6 stages have been inspected thoroughly twice and it’s been signed off by signed off on by engineers,” Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Ignatius Carroll said. “It should be no problems at all.”
So crews cleared the debris and the gates opened as planned.
That was music to the ears of those who look forward to this wild weekend all year long.
“A lot of people think just go out and dance, but it’s an event that unites people,” Jonathan Schoder said. “That’s why I do it every year.”
Traffic along Biscayne Blvd is being rerouted through the weekend.
Undercover Miami police officers will be amongst the crowds to make sure everyone is following the rules.
As of Friday night, Miami Fire Rescue had received 50 calls and transported 15 people to the hospital. Details on their injuries or illnesses and their conditions were not immediately known.
Weekend 1 of Ultra Music Fest ends Sunday at 11 p.m. The party will then resume the following weekend.
For those who can’t attend the music event, it’s being streamed live on YouTube. Click here for the live YouTube feed.
