2nd Concertgoer Dies After Suspected Drug Overdoses

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) -- A second concertgoer has died from a suspected drug overdose. It happened over the weekend at a Howard County music concert.

Tracey Leong reports emergency crews were called to the scene, where dozens of concertgoers had overdosed.

A 17-year-old male from Woodbridge, Virginia is the second patient to die from a suspected drug overdose at the Mad Decent Block Party.

The Merriweather Post Pavilion concert took a deadly turn Friday when 20 concertgoers were rushed to the hospital for drug overdoses, including 20-year-old Tyler Viscardi of North Carolina.

Viscardi, who was also a student at the University of Maryland, was pronounced dead shortly after. A 17-year-old from Virginia died Sunday. Police do not believe the two young men knew one another.

"It's alcohol or pot or pills or 'molly' or ecstasy. The concerts are geared towards taking drugs and being intoxicated," said Mike Gimbel, a substance abuse expert.

Experts say what happened at the Mad Decent Block Party is a tragic trend. Last summer, two people died from a drug overdose at New York's Electric Zoo festival and more than 30 were hospitalized after a drug and alcohol overdose at Boston's TD Garden for an Avicii concert in June.

"You know, we've already seen some tragedy and it doesn't seem like they're learning from what happened in other cities," Gimbel said.

The promoter for the concert made this statement on Twitter Saturday: "Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by yesterday's event. We are saddened by the news."

"They need to do more now and we should have learned from the other concerts where kids have already died," Gimbel said.

Friends of Tyler Viscardi have told WJZ that they are saddened by the news of their friend's passing and they are planning on honoring his life.

Police say they are waiting for autopsy and toxicology results from the Medical Examiner's Officer to confirm the 17-year-old boy's exact cause of death.

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