Information has been released on the victims injured during the car accident at SXSW early Thursday, March 13, and the Red Cross has helped set up an Emotional Support Center in Downtown Austin in the aftermath.
The Emotional Support Center in Room 5C at the Austin Convention Center will be open to SXSW registrants from 10 am to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15. Another Emotional Support Center will be open to the general public, located at The Radisson Hotel at 111 E. Cesar Chavez Street.
“The jointly-operated center will focus on providing counseling and emotional support to SXSW staff and volunteers, as well as residents or visitors who were impacted by the incident in which a car ran through barricades and killed two people and injured 23 others,” reads the statement announcing the centers.
SXSW is also urging people to help by donating blood to The Blood Center of Central Texas and has set up the SXSW Cares Fund. The SXSW Cares Fund promises to help those affected by the accident, though how exactly is unclear.
Vans Shoe Company will also be donating money to help victims of the crash. The crash occurred outside Mohawk, a club in Downtown Austin, which is converted into the ‘House of Vans’ during SXSW. Vans announced its intention to sell as many products as possible Thursday and donate all the proceeds to the victims of the crash.
“Sell as much as we can and give all the money to the victims and their families instead of just sitting around doing nothing and closing up shop,” said Vice President of the Americas for Vans, Doug Palladino.
As more information on the crash emerges, an official list of those injured has been released, listing their name, age, gender and where they were – or are – being treated. According to new reports, two people remain in critical condition, three in serious condition, and three hospitalized with injuries that are not life threatening. Little more is known on the suspected drunk driver responsible for the accident, Rashad Charjuan Owens, 21. His blood alcohol level was tested following the accident, but the results have not yet been released.
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell addressed the public on Thursday during a press conference with the Austin Police Department, expressing his sympathies and thanking all the first responders.
“I want to acknowledge the excellent performance of our first responders who performed in a way that perhaps saved many lives,” Leffingwell said.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo has also praised the first responders and thanked good Samaritans who helped on the scene of the crash.
– Olivia Truffaut-Wong
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