AUSTIN — A 21-year-old suspect evading a DUI checkpoint led police on a high-speed chase that ended when the Honda Civic he was driving crashed barricades set up for the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival near the Mohawk club at Red River Street and 10th Street in Austin. Dozens of bystanders were hit by the speeding vehicle, which also narrowly missed a police car and officer. Three died.
The victims included Steven Craenmehr, 35, creative director for Amsterdam-based MassiveMusic, who was on a bicycle when he was hit. Also killed: Jamie West, 27, from Austin, who was on a moped with her husband. The husband, Evan West, 29, was seriously injured. A total of 23 were transported to hospitals with minor to critical injuries. One of the critically injured, Sandy Le, 26, died March 17.
Organizers say the incident, which began at about 12:30 a.m. and ended only about two minutes later, was the first instance in the SXSW festival’s 27 years where people attending the festival have been killed. Austin police chief Art Acevedo called the mayhem an “intentional act” and said the suspect, Rashad Charjuan Owens, 21, will face counts of capital murder along with multiple charges of aggravated assault. Reports indicate that Owens did not hit his brakes before his speeding vehicle caused the deaths and injuries. A breath test put Owens’ blood-alcohol content at .114, above the legal limit of .08.
Inside the Mohawk, punk band X’s performance was cut short and rapper/record producer Tyler, the Creator’s outdoor performance was canceled just before it began. But the multi-venue, multi-faceted SXSW festival, which features some 2,200 performers at more than 100 Austin music venues, was expected to proceed more or less as planned.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the tragic accident that took place last night here in Austin,” read a statement released by festival organizers. “We will be making schedule and venue changes for programming in the surrounding area of last night’s events. All other programming will continue as previously scheduled.”
