Woman at Burning Man Festival Struck and Killed by Bus

Aug. 28--A Wyoming woman described as having an "adventurous, caring spirit" died at the annual Burning Man festival in northern Nevada early Thursday after she was run over by a bus carrying participants, authorities said.

Alicia Louise Cipicchio, 29, of Jackson, Wyo., died after "falling under a large vehicle," organizers said in a statement.

Details of the crash were not immediately released, but Burning Man co-founder Marian Goodell described it as "a terrible accident."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and campmates," Goodell said. "Black Rock rangers and emergency services department staff are providing support to those affected."

Cipicchio worked at a fine art gallery and had studied art at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, according to her Facebook profile.

In a profile on couchsurfing.org, an online network for world travelers, Cipicchio wrote, "As a woman, I have found that it is somewhat dangerous to travel alone these (days) and this is sad to me. I am glad to be involved in a community that makes traveling safe and affordable. It is nice to see people looking out for people, we need more of this in our world."

She listed her interests as "nature, art, music, food, culture, philosophy, dancing, laughing." As for her philosophy, she wrote, "Love your neighbor."

An acquaintance from Oakland wrote on the website, "Alicia is such a sweet, loving, adventurous, caring spirit. She just radiates wonderful vibes."

Five hundred rangers managed by organizer Black Rock City LLC, as well as 95 federal and local law enforcement officers, are patrolling the art-focused party billed as a "temporary community based on radical self expression and self-reliance."

Burning Man officials said they were working with the Pershing County sheriff's office in its investigation of the death.

In 2003, Katherine Lampman of Belmont died at the event when she fell from an "art car" and was run over by its wheels. Lampman, 21, was a student at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and an aspiring photographer.

Some 68,000 people are arriving in the Black Rock Desert about 120 miles north of Reno for the weeklong event. The gates opened Tuesday after a rainstorm hit the region, closing the festival Monday on its opening day.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee

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