A Georgia ferry dock collapse that killed seven people despite supposedly being able to hold 320 was operating with known structural problems, according to a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed against negligent contractors who rebuilt the failing structure in 2021.
Key Takeaways
- Families of seven victims killed in the Sapelo Island dock collapse have filed lawsuits against engineering and construction companies, with civil rights attorney Ben Crump representing several plaintiffs.
- The collapse occurred during a Cultural Day celebration on October 19, 2024, with approximately 40 people on a gangway designed to support 320 people.
- Despite previous inspections showing no issues, emails from 2022 revealed concerns about weld cracks, and a ferry worker had expressed doubts about the gangway’s sturdiness before the tragedy.
- The lawsuit alleges the 80-foot walkway was poorly designed and constructed, lacking structural reinforcement and proper welding techniques.
- The case specifically targets four private contractors involved in the 2021 project but not the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which continues investigating the collapse alongside an independent engineering firm.
Deadly Collapse During Cultural Celebration
The catastrophic failure of a ferry dock gangway on Georgia’s Sapelo Island claimed seven lives and injured more than a dozen others during what should have been a joyful cultural celebration. The tragedy unfolded on October 19, 2024, when approximately 40 people were on the gangway as they boarded a ferry to return from the annual Fall Cultural Day festivities. Without warning, the structure gave way, plunging at least 20 people into the water below. The incident has devastated families and the tight-knit community connected to the historic island, prompting survivors and victims’ families to seek accountability through legal action.
According to the lawsuit filed in Gwinnett County, the dock was designed to support 320 people but failed catastrophically under the weight of just 40. Attorney Chadrick A. Mance is representing survivors, while civil rights attorney Ben Crump has taken up the cause for several victims’ families. The legal action specifically targets four private contractors involved in the 2021 rebuilding of the dock rather than the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The lawsuit alleges serious negligence in design and construction, claiming the 80-foot walkway lacked proper structural reinforcement and adequate welding.
Warning Signs Ignored Before Tragedy
Perhaps most troubling are the revelations that warning signs about the gangway’s structural integrity were apparently ignored in the months and years before the deadly collapse. Emails from May 2022 indicated concerns about weld cracks on the gangway, and a ferry worker had previously expressed doubts about the structure’s sturdiness. Despite these red flags, the last inspection in December 2023 supposedly found no issues with the gangway. This glaring discrepancy between documented concerns and official inspection findings forms a central part of the lawsuit’s allegations of negligence against the companies responsible.
“These seven people did not have to die on the Sapelo Island gangway dock,” said Ben Crump, civil rights attorney.
Adding to the tragedy is the fact that Sapelo Island lacks proper medical facilities. According to attorney Mance, plans for a clinic on the island were scrapped in favor of a restaurant, potentially delaying critical care for victims. This absence of medical resources compounded the impact of the catastrophe, as injured victims had to wait for emergency responders to arrive from the mainland. The lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, wrongful deaths, and personal injuries, with attorneys describing it as a “multi-million dollar” legal action.
Families Seek Justice and Accountability
For the families of victims, the lawsuit represents not just financial compensation but a demand for accountability and a means to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Regina Brinson, who lost a loved one in the collapse, expressed the ongoing grief during an Atlanta news conference. Survivor Kimberly Wood conveyed the lasting trauma of the experience, stating, “I’m shaking now just talking about it.” Another survivor, Janice Carrol, described how what began as an exciting first visit to Sapelo turned into a life-altering tragedy that continues to affect her daily life.
“It was supposed to be a celebration of Black pride, but it became a day of great, great, great Black loss of humanity and life,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump, one of several lawyers behind the lawsuit, told an Atlanta news conference. “We’re filing this lawsuit to speak to that tragedy.”
The lawsuit’s allegations paint a disturbing picture of insufficient oversight and corporate negligence in public infrastructure. The dock had been rebuilt in 2021 following a separate lawsuit by Hogg Hummock residents over accessibility standards, making the fatal collapse just three years later even more troubling. While Centennial Contractor Enterprises, one of the defendants, has acknowledged awareness of the lawsuit, they declined to comment on the pending legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the investigation into the exact cause of the collapse continues, with both state officials and an independent engineering firm working to determine what went wrong.
