BONNAROO DEATHS RULED DUE TO DRUG OVERDOSES

NASHVILLE - Drug abuse killed two young adults who died while in Tennessee
for the June Bonnaroo music festival, the state medical examiner has ruled.

Brandon Taylor, 20, of Lowell, Mich., and Amber Lynn Stevens, 22, of
Flatwoods, Ky., died from "acute combined drug toxicity," according to
forensic pathologist Dr. Bruce Levy. Both deaths were ruled accidental and
attributed to taking "too many drugs too soon," autopsy reports stated.

The two young people died within a day of each other after being taken from
the June festival to a hospital for treatment. They were the first deaths in
the three-year history of the popular event, which drew 90,000 music fans to
a 600-acre plus farm near Manchester.

The autopsy report, released Wednesday by the Coffee County Sheriff's
Department, says the deaths occurred "because of the combined effects of all
the drugs in the body."

Stevens had five drugs in her body when she died, while Taylor had three in
his system, comprehensive toxicology tests revealed.

The young woman's system contained ketamine, a general anesthetic also used
as a painkiller and known as "Special K"; diazepam, a prescription drug
normally given for anxiety attacks and seizures known by the brand name
Valium; oxycodone, a prescription painkiller; plus marijuana and cocaine.

Drugs found in Taylor's body were cocaine, oxycodone, and alprazolam, a
prescription drug for anxiety and panic disorders known by the brand name
Xanax.

Law enforcement officials say all of the drugs found in the young people
were among those confiscated by local officers when they arrested 27 people
and issued 132 citations to Bonnaroo attendees.

Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said the autopsy results came as no
surprise. He said he witnessed a lot of drug activity during Bonnaroo but
didn't have the manpower to make any more arrests.

"We've been lucky over the years. I guess some will say that two deaths out
of the number of people that were here is probably pretty good, but two is
too many," he said.