In a shocking incident at Lost Lands Music Festival early Sunday morning, a vehicle drove into several tents in the staff camping area, leaving festival-goers on edge. According to Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp, the event occurred around 2:30 AM, with witnesses describing an atmosphere of growing unease in the campgrounds as news spread. Attendees told ABC6 that many are now hesitant to sleep in their tents, indicating concern about their safety after the ordeal.
Festival news outlet The Festive Owl quickly confirmed details, reporting that an individual displaying erratic behavior got behind the wheel of a truck and drove through a campsite populated by people resting in their tents. Festival-goers nearby intervened, managing to subdue the driver and pull him from the vehicle before authorities arrived. Photographs show camping gear, including crushed tents, lodged underneath the truck following the incident.
Authorities identified the driver as 24-year-old Noah Curtis from Westerville. He was arrested and taken to the Licking County Jail, where he faces charges of aggravated vehicular assault. One female attendee was transported to Mt. Carmel East hospital with a broken hip, while a male victim suffered minor injuries but did not require medical attention.
In light of the chaos, the Lost Lands team quickly addressed the situation on their official Reddit page, aiming to dispel rumors and ensure accurate information:
“We feel it is important to share accurate information to help keep everyone safe and informed. Last night, emergency response teams responded to a car accident in the vendor campgrounds. One person was transported to the hospital and is in good condition. The investigation is being handled by the Licking County Police Department, and they have one individual in custody…”
The statement also addresses other concerns, including a viral video showing an attendee with a water gun. Lost Lands confirmed that security had confiscated the toy and promptly removed the individual from the festival, reaffirming their zero-tolerance policy for objects resembling weapons. They also refuted a circulating rumor about a $5,000 fine for smoking, emphasizing that no fines have been issued to attendees.
An official statement from the ‘Lost Lands Festival Organizers’ went on to say the following:
“On Saturday night Licking County Sheriff’s department arrested a man after a vehicle was involved in an incident at the vendor camping area, injuring two people, one of whom was taken to a local hospital to receive medical care and is in stable condition. We are offering any information we can to local authorities to aid their investigation.”
Despite the statement released by Lost Lands, a user on Reddit replied questioning potential fines as his account details watching a camping neighbor receive what they believed to be a court summons for smoking, raising suspicions of potential impersonation of festival security:
“Our whole group watched it all go down. Was it that they get fined the $5000 if they don’t show up at court? They had to sign the document and everything. If you’re saying this is false, then that would imply that someone was pretending to be security and a fire department worker and were driving around camps on a golf cart and you guys should definitely look into that. We sat under our canopy and watched it all go down with our own eyes. I really hope people weren’t doing that and falsely impersonating authorities with fake court summons tickets. That would be messed up.”
At this time, no further details have surfaced, but the festival community remains on high alert. Our thoughts are with those affected by this event. We encourage you to share your thoughts on our official social media platforms. For continued breaking news updates in the music community, be sure to follow Moon Lvnding!
