Editor Note: This story has been updated to reflect that the incident took place 2880 feet away from the Speedway grounds rather than the figure around 300 ft. It also occured in Henry County, not Atlanta.
Heartbreaking news tied to another festival: Georgia Unfiltered is reporting that a tragic car accident took the life of 19-year-old Fabian Gonzalez right outside the entrance of Imagine Music Festival on September 23rd.
The festival took place at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Imagine Festival hosted DJs such as Above and Beyond, Flux Pavillion, Big Gigantic, Pretty Lights, and more. The festival has been voted one of the “Top 30 Festivals In The World” by Fest300, but has been receiving a bit of backlash as of late due to safety concerns.
The accident occurred at 11:39PM about 2880 feet away from the intersection of Oak Street and U.S. Highway 41, where Gonzalez was said to have been crossing the street in his underwear. A toxicology report will not be performed on the victim, and Major Mike Ireland of Henry County Police Department said charges will not be filed against the motorist that hit Gonzalez.
When asked about the incident, a festival spokesman explained that “Imagine has been cooperating with this ongoing investigation, given the proximity to the festival, but cannot comment further.”
Gonzalez was not the first person to lose his life while attending the festival. Last year, 21-year-old Kurt Stelzig of Rock Hill, South Carolina died after falling 30 feet and landing on his head onto concrete. Both accidents, however, did not occur on festival grounds.