Even though SXSW refused to comment for this story, in an interview for the Texas Monthly, SXSW founder Roland Swenson painfully remembered last year’s SXSW crash. Mohawk, a concert venue downtown, was about to receive singer Tyler The Creator. Swenson was at the top level ready to enjoy the show when a different type of tune blasted through the police cars. A driver evading police authorities ran his car into a sidewalk killing four people, and injuring several others.
“We are still getting over it,” he told the publication, “We’ve had some group counseling.”
Swenson said there will be overall festival monitoring, and there will be direct contact with the police emergency center. To avoid confusion between official SXSW events and unofficial ones, Swenson said a comprehensive safety plan has been created which the city has already approved. In case something happens, authorities know who to call.
Jane Hervey who witnessed last year’s SXSW crash, is hosting a big group of friends for the festival and she said she is not hesitant to go back. She said last year’s accident it did not seem preventable.
“We are still getting over it,” he told the publication, “We’ve had some group counseling.”
Swenson said there will be overall festival monitoring, and there will be direct contact with the police emergency center. To avoid confusion between official SXSW events and unofficial ones, Swenson said a comprehensive safety plan has been created which the city has already approved. In case something happens, authorities know who to call.
Jane Hervey who witnessed last year’s SXSW crash, is hosting a big group of friends for the festival and she said she is not hesitant to go back. She said last year’s accident it did not seem preventable.