2024 – Oct 19, ferry dock gangway collapse, Sapelo Island, GA                   —       7

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 10-27-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–7  AP. “An engineering firm will investigate Georgia’s deadly dock collapse.” 10-25-2024.

–7  CNN. “Georgia authorities investigating ‘catastrophic’ failure of boat dock gangway…” 10-20-2024.

–7  NYT. “What We Know About the Gangway Collapse That Killed 7 in Georgia.” 10-21-2024

Narrative Information

Oct 20, CNN: “Authorities are investigating the cause of a partial ferry dock collapse on Georgia’s Sapelo Island that turned a day of celebration into tragedy, leaving at least seven dead and six critically injured as crowds gathered for a cultural festival.

“Those who died were all older than 70, and one was 93, CNN affiliate WTOC reported.

“In the midst of a celebration of the island’s small Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants, a gangway collapsed on the visitor ferry dock shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday and plunged at least 20 people into the water, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Capt. Chris Hodge said at a Saturday night news conference.

“There were as many as 40 people on the gangway when it collapsed Saturday, department Commissioner Walter Rabon said at a Sunday news conference. Authorities believe the seven people deceased were visitors to the area.

“The gangway was completed in November 2021, said Rabon. ‘There should be very, very little maintenance to an aluminum gangway like that,’ he said, adding there were ‘almost daily inspections.’ The gangway was last inspected in December 2023 by the McIntosh County-based Crescent Equipment Company, the natural resources department said in a statement later Sunday….

“McIntosh County Coroner Melvin Amerson identified those killed as Jacqueline Crews Carter, 75; Cynthia Gibbs, 74; William Johnson Jr., 73; Carlotta McIntosh, 93; Isaiah Thomas, 79; Queen Welch, 76; and Charles L. Houston, 77, WTOC reported….” (CNN. “Georgia authorities investigating ‘catastrophic’ failure of boat dock gangway that killed 7 during Gullah-Geechee festival.” 10-20-2024.)

Oct 21, NYT: “….People waiting for the ferry described hearing the crack of a gangway on a ferry dock at Sapelo Island, about 70 miles south of Savannah, Ga., followed by the sound of screams and the horrific sight of floating bodies. The authorities are investigating what caused the gangway to collapse….

“At around 4:30 p.m., as dozens of people were preparing to board a ferry called the Annemarie, the middle of the gangway collapsed, officials said. Twenty people were sent into the cold fast-moving Duplin River….

“Seven people were killed and three others were hospitalized in critical condition, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which manages the island and operates the ferry service. All 20 people who went into the water have been accounted for, the authorities said….

“A spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources said on Sunday that a portion of the dock was built, but not installed, by Crescent Equipment Company. The company, based in Townsend, Ga., about 25 miles inland from Sapelo, declined to comment on Sunday. It was not immediately clear who had installed the dock.” (New York Times. “What We Know About the Gangway Collapse That Killed 7 in Georgia.” 10-21-2024.)

Sources

Associated Press. “An engineering firm will investigate Georgia’s deadly dock collapse.” 10-25-2024. Accessed 10-27-2024 at: https://apnews.com/article/gullah-geechee-georgia-salepo-island-collapse-dock-79c7816670fdd8f9c2f470c990fe2875

CNN. “Georgia authorities investigating ‘catastrophic’ failure of boat dock gangway that killed 7 during Gullah-Geechee festival.” 10-20-2024. Accessed 10-20-2024 at: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/20/us/georgia-sapelo-island-ferry-dock-collapse-sunday/index.html

New York Times. “What We Know About the Gangway Collapse That Killed 7 in Georgia.” 10-21-2024. Accessed 10-21-2024 at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/21/us/gangway-collapse-georgia-sapelo-island.html