Local News
Video captures moments before the Sapelo Island ferry dock gangway collapsed
Sapelo Island, GA – A devastating incident occurred on Saturday at a ferry dock on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least seven people.
The collapse of a gangway at the dock sent people plunging into the water, prompting a massive search and rescue operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard, the McIntosh County Fire Department, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and other agencies.
Multiple people were transported to area hospitals, and rescue crews continued to search the water for survivors.
Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, confirmed seven fatalities and stated that the search for additional victims was ongoing.
The cause of the gangway collapse remains under investigation, but officials believe at least 20 people were on the dock at the time of the incident.
The gangway connected an outer dock to the onshore dock, facilitating access to the ferry.
Among the victims of the tragedy was a chaplain for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Sapelo Island, located approximately 60 miles south of Savannah, is a small island community accessible only by boat.
The island’s annual Cultural Day celebration highlights the Gullah-Geechee community of Hogg Hummock, a settlement founded by former slaves from the cotton plantation of Thomas Spalding.
Gullah-Geechee communities, descended from enslaved island populations, are scattered along the coast from North Carolina to Florida. These communities have preserved much of their African heritage, including their unique dialect, fishing skills, and basket weaving traditions.
Emergency services in Queens responded to a multi-casualty incident (MCI) late Thursday involving a major motor vehicle accident on the Kosciuszko Bridge.
The accident left six individuals injured, including two victims in critical condition suffering from traumatic cardiac arrest.
First responders arrived on scene under Box 8380, finding multiple vehicles involved in a collision that caused significant damage and blocked portions of the bridge.
Emergency medical teams immediately began triage and treatment, stabilizing patients for transport to area hospitals.
Two individuals required advanced life-saving measures at the scene as they were in traumatic arrest due to their injuries.
Four additional patients sustained varying levels of injury, and all six were transported to nearby trauma centers for further care.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which caused major traffic disruptions in the area. Motorists were advised to seek alternate routes as emergency crews worked to clear the scene and restore traffic flow.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and the conditions of the injured individuals are made available.