Rainbow Serpent festival off to tragic start with overdose, road death, truck accident

A man has overdosed at bush doof festival Rainbow Serpent as friends of a young university student killed in a car crash on her way to the controversial event pay tribute to an “amazing, caring” woman.

Lucy Groen tragically died in a car crash on her way to the Rainbow Serpent music festival. Picture: Supplied

A young man has overdosed at the Rainbow Serpent ­Festival after a young woman died en route to the ­controversial event.

It comes after three people were crushed by a truck on Thursday before the four-day bush doof festival kicked off at Lexton, near Ballarat, on Friday.

Friends paid ­tribute to “amazing, caring” 19-year-old university student Lucy Groen, who was killed in a car crash while travelling to the event with a friend.

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Friends paid ­tribute to “amazing, caring” 19-year-old university student Lucy Groen. Picture: Supplied

“You shaped my life and who I am as a person and I’ll never be able to fully thank you for that,” friend Helena McKay said.

Ms Groen, who was studying early childhood education at Victoria University and planned to become a primary school teacher, was a passenger in the car on Thursday when it hit a barrier and rolled onto its roof near Gordon, about 70km from the festival.

The driver of the car, an 18-year-old woman from Aspendale, was taken to hospital with serious lower leg injuries.

The crash in Gordon. Picture: Channel 9

The driver was flown to hospital. Her friend died at the scene. Picture: Channel 9

Ballarat Superintendent Jenny Wilson confirmed a man aged in his early 20s had also been taken to hospital in a critical condition, due to a drug overdose.

Another festival-goer was arrested for trafficking drugs including ketamine and MDMA.

Three others are in hospital after they were crushed inside their tent by an unregistered festival-owned truck.

Supt Wilson said she was disappointed with the festival’s tragic beginning.

“I am really disappointed about what’s occurred,” she said. “It’s devastating that so many young people have been affected in the past few days.

“All but one of these people is aged in their 20s and some will never get to experience a full life — it’s tragic.”

The Rainbow Serpent festival has been marred by controversy in recent years. Picture: Generic/file

Supt Wilson encouraged festival-goers to be patient on the road and also urged them to avoid taking drugs, ­especially before getting ­behind the wheel.

“Slow down and take care on the roads,” she said. “If you think you are drug or alcohol- affected, don’t get in the car.”

Extreme heat and power blackouts are also posing as major issues for festival-goers, as the state swelters through its hottest day since Black Saturday in 2009.

Supt Wilson said police were investigating how the truck came to roll 20m and end up on top of festival goers on Thursday.

She urged anyone with footage of the incident to come forward.

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