Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump called for a federal investigation into the dock gangway collapse that killed seven people during a festival on Georgia’s Sapelo Island. The incident occurred during the island’s annual Cultural Day, which celebrates Gullah Geechee history. The victims were waiting to board a ferry when the gangway collapsed, plunging about 20 people into the water. Crump, representing the victims’ families, stated that the deaths were preventable and called for accountability. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating the cause of the collapse. Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with people scrambling for safety and being swept away by the current. The dock and gangway were constructed in 2021 and last inspected in December. The victims were all seniors from Florida, Atlanta, and Georgia, with Crump emphasizing that they died due to negligence, not natural causes. Family members shared emotional accounts of the harrowing experience, with one survivor describing the terrifying moment her uncle grabbed onto her shirt and pulled her under the water. The survivors and families of the victims are seeking justice and answers regarding the tragic incident.
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