35 Hospitalized from Rave Party at Lehigh

UPDATE -- 3 P.M.

About 35 people were sent to area hospitals from a rave party at Lehigh University’s Rauch Field House Saturday night, according to a story in The Morning Call.

needs “to examine this event,” said Robert F. Mateff, director of Northampton County emergency services, who told the newspaper that the incident “put a strain” on the county’s emergency response system.

Six people were also arrested for alcohol or disorderly conduct violations, according to Lehigh University Police Chief Edward Shupp, as quoted in The Express-Times.

It is unclear why so many people required hospitalization, though WFMZ-TV, Channel 69, quoted some at the event who said there was drug use and that there was also some pushing and shoving.

Shupp told The Express-Times that there was no evidence of drug use at the event, where attendees were searched before entering. He said dehydration was the likely cause of most of the medical issues and that no one was seriously hurt.

About 4,200 people attended the event, described as the “World’s Largest Paint Party,” which is put on by DayGlow. On the company website, the event is described as one “that fuses high-energy music, art, dance, and PAINT into one mind blowing combination.”