Relatives of seven individuals who tragically drowned near Sapelo Island, Georgia, after a ferry dock walkway collapsed have filed a lawsuit against the companies responsible for its design and construction. The incident occurred on October 19 during a community celebration, drawing around 700 visitors to the island, which is known for its rich Gullah-Geechee heritage.
Witnesses reported that dozens of people were on the metal walkway connecting a ferry to the dock when it suddenly broke in the middle. Many fell into the water and were quickly swept away by strong tidal currents, while others struggled to hold on to the broken structure.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the families, described the event as a heartbreaking shift from a day meant to celebrate Black pride to one marked by immense loss. He emphasized the need for accountability in the lawsuit, which claims that the walkway was poorly designed and constructed, citing inadequate structural reinforcement and poor welding practices.
Survivors recounted harrowing experiences. Regina Brinson, who was on the walkway when it collapsed, described hearing a loud crack before seeing a family friend fall into the water. She and her uncle also fell, and both tragically lost their lives. Another survivor, Kimberly Wood, fell with her two-year-old daughter in her arms while her older daughter clung to the railing. Wood managed to stay afloat until she was rescued, but her family faced injuries and trauma from the incident.
The lawsuit targets four private contractors involved in the walkway’s construction for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The project, completed in 2021, was supposed to support the weight of 320 people, yet it failed when approximately 40 were on it at the time of the collapse.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has stated that it relied on its contractors to ensure the walkway was built safely, as this fell outside their expertise. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, with state officials and a private engineering firm looking into what went wrong.
The families are seeking damages for negligence, wrongful deaths, and personal injuries, hoping to find some measure of justice for their losses. As the community mourns, the focus now turns to accountability and ensuring that such a tragedy does not happen again.