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Austin Officials Review Safety For SXSW Festival

Ashley Park-Moody
/
KUT News
Emergency responders shut down Red River following the fatal crash early Thursday morning, March 13.

Officials in Austin say they're at a "critical point" to make the South by Southwest festival safer after a car crash earlier this year killed four people.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that a new report on South by Southwest released yesterday faults festival organizers and planners of "secret shows" and unofficial events for not notifying the city in advance.

The city may begin issuing temporary event permits that would require attention to safety and traffic control. The city is also proposing adding patrol officers and a shuttle in downtown during the festival.

Last year's festival was marred by a car crash when a driver rammed a crowd waiting outside a club in downtown Austin, killing four people.