Atlantic Beach Bike Fest Stampede Injures 19, Hospitalizing 3 as Officials Rule Out Fights or Weapons
Updated
Updated · WMBF · May 24
Atlantic Beach Bike Fest Stampede Injures 19, Hospitalizing 3 as Officials Rule Out Fights or Weapons
10 articles · Updated · WMBF · May 24
Nineteen people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a stampede around 1 a.m. Sunday near a performance stage at Atlantic Beach Bike Fest, and three were taken to a hospital.
Town officials said the panic appears to have started when one person began running, triggering a chain reaction in the crowd that lasted only seconds rather than stemming from any confirmed fight, weapon or direct threat.
SLED, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and local responders moved in quickly, addressed the crowd from the stage and restored order before the event resumed.
The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, running since Friday and drawing thousands of bikers, has operated for more than 40 years; last year's event also saw crowd panic after fights, sending 12 people to hospitals.
With Myrtle Beach tourism already down, will another festival incident be the final blow?
Can a 46-year-old cultural festival survive its recurring safety crises?