1 dead, many hospitalized after overdoses at the Gorge

GEORGE - A 21-year-old Seattle man died during the Paradiso Festival at the Gorge over the weekend, and nearly 50 people were treated for drug overdose or alcohol related illnesses, according to Michele Wurl, of the Quincy Valley Medical Center.

An autopsy was completed Monday by the Chelan County Coroner's Office. Coroner Wayne Harris said late Monday afternoon that autopsy results were not yet available for Patrick Witkowski of Des Moines, Wash., according to an Associated Press report. The coroner also said Witkowski was a Washington State University student.

Seven patients were sent to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee for serious illness.

The drug cocktail known as "molly" isn't something new to the Gorge or Grant County.

"We've been dealing with "molly" for a number of years, not just here at the Gorge, but we deal with "molly" in other facets as well," Grant County Undersheriff Dave Ponozzo said.

He said the number of arrests, about 23, is not unusual for a Gorge event.

Wurl said the hospital prepares for more patients during summer events at the Gorge and other area events. While the hospital remains busy on concert weekends, Wurl said more patients are coming in with more intense drug use.

"As far as quantity wise, I wouldn't say it's worse," she said. "What were are seeing this year is a much higher, what we call acuity, other people would call severity. People are coming in sicker."

The majority of the patients from the festival were treated for dehydration or minor illnesses, some were brought in fully intubated, meaning they could not breath on their own or were unconscious and unresponsive, Wurl said.

Wurl said the toxicology screen does not pick up the specific drugs that caused the overdoses, especially with homemade drugs.

Kyle Foreman, of the sheriff's office, said it's too early to determine if the drug "molly" was to blame for the overdoses.

"It would be speculation right now to say it was one drug or another, or any particular batch of illicit drug," Foreman said.

He added the sheriff's office is working with hospital staff to determine what role drugs played in the incidents.