Carmageddon: Campers stuck in line for hours trying to get into Coachella music festival
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - Campers trying to get into the Coachella Music and Arts Festival Thursday were stuck in traffic for several hours.
Some campers said they've been in line for more than eight hours without access to water or restrooms.
"Seven hours into this. We paid 600 dollars a ticket, 300 for parking pass. This is absurd, why are we spending this money to spend eight hours in a car we aren't even inside yet."
Ethan, festival-goer
“I’ve seen people pass out through heat exhaustion, it’s been chaos. We’ve been here since 3 am it’s been crazy. It’s literally almost 11.”
Olivia, festival-goer
Lines remained long around the Empire Polo Club in Indio throughout the day.
Officials from multiple departments and agencies helping to direct traffic into the festival, including CHP.
Officer David Torres says with the influx of visitors, enforcement is not only being ramped up around the festival, but all throughout the Valley.
“We do have more officers on the road but are also more hyper-aware looking for violations, making sure that everyone can make it to the festival safely... We just see that people are so excited for the festival so sometimes they may be speeding, or distracted, or might want to be celebrating early.”
David Torres, Indio CHP PIO
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.
