Coachella Worker Killed While Setting Up Stage Identified As Christopher Griffin

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA. (THECOUNT) — The man who died in a fall while climbing the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival stage scaffolding to install rigging equipment, has been identified as Christopher Griffin, official said on Sunday.

Griffin, 49, was not using a safety harness at the time he plunged more that 60 feet to his death.

The Riverside County Fire Department reported receiving a call of someone falling from a roof at 9:26 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Monroe Street and Avenue 50, in Indio, California Saturday.

Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene of massive blunt for trauma injuries, according to officials.

In a written statement Saturday, the festival’s production company, Goldenvoice, confirmed the death.

“Today, Goldenvoice lost a colleague, a friend, a family member. Our friend fell while working on a festival stage. It is with heavy hearts and tremendous difficulty that we confirm his passing. He has been with our team for twenty years in the desert and was doing what he loved. He was a hard- working and loving person that cared deeply about his team. As our lead rigger, he was responsible for the countless incredible shows that have been put on at the festival. We will miss him dearly,” the company said, source.

The Indio Police Department was investigating the death.

According to the entertainment website TMZ, Griffin was climbing the stage scaffolding to install rigging equipment and was not using a safety harness when he fell.

Geo quick facts: Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California Colorado Desert region. It lies 23 miles east of Palm Springs, 75 miles east of Riverside, 127 miles east of Los Angeles, and 148 miles northeast of San Diego. The word Indio is Spanish for Indian – Wikipedia.