A 29-year-old Wyoming woman has been identified as the vicitm of a fatal accident that occurred at annual desert festival Burning Man early on Thursday morning (US time).
The event first made a public Facebook announcement regarding the incident late last night (AEST), explaining that a woman had died after "reportedly falling under a bus carrying participants", and that they were working with the Pershing County Sheriff's Office to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy and notify her next of kin. The festival consequently further confirmed the veracity of reports in a brief(er than usual) tweet.
"This is a terrible accident," the original Facebook post quoted Burning Man co-founder Marian Goodell as saying. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and campmates. Black Rock Rangers and Emergency Services Department staff are providing support to those affected.”
Fatal accident occurs at Burning Man event - http://t.co/w4LIr5Ap03
— Burning Man (@burningman) August 28, 2014
The festival provided a further update early this morning (AEST), identifying the victim as Alicia Louise Cipcchio, 29, of Jackson, Wyoming, and expressed their condolences to her family, friends and campmates; however, the incident itself is still under investigation, according to the festival.
"Event officials, including representatives of Black Rock City, the Bureau of Land Management and Pershing County Sheriff’s Office express their condolences and sympathies to the family, friends and campmates of the victim," the festival wrote. "Support is being provided to those affected by the tragedy.
"Organizers are working with investigators from Pershing County Sheriff’s Office to determine the series of events leading to the incident."
Burning Man is scheduled to run until Monday, September 1.
