19 Evaluated, 3 Hospitalized After Stampede at South Carolina Bike Festival
Early Sunday morning, a stampede at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, resulted in 19 people being evaluated for injuries, with three transported to a hospital.
Incident Timeline
According to Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR), crews were dispatched at 1:05 a.m. Sunday to the area near a stage along South Ocean Boulevard. Upon arrival, with law enforcement assistance, they evaluated 19 patients for non-life-threatening injuries.
Three individuals were transported to a hospital for further treatment. Officials noted that others may have self-transported to hospitals. Due to the number of patients, HCFR declared a mass casualty incident.
Official Statements
Atlantic Beach Interim Town Manager Titus Leaks stated that the incident was triggered when an individual began running through the crowd, causing a brief chain reaction that lasted seconds. Leaks reported that there were no confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety.
According to a statement from the Town of Atlantic Beach, officers assigned to crowd control quickly calmed the panicked crowd and restored order. Personnel from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) responded; SLED personnel addressed the crowd, informing them that no significant incident had occurred. The event resumed normal operations after the situation was stabilized.
Event Background
The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, which has been held annually over Memorial Day weekend for 40 years, attracts visitors and motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country.
Last year's event included a party boat shooting in Little River and multiple fights that sent several people to the hospital.