Nineteen people were injured in a stampede at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival early Sunday morning, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.
Around 1 a.m., crews responded to a reported stampede near the stage area along South Ocean Boulevard in Atlantic Beach. Horry County Fire Rescue said 19 patients were injured, but no injuries were believed to be life-threatening.
Three people were transported to a local hospital.
The event was declared a “mass casualty” incident due to the number of injuries.
The town of Atlantic Beach provided a statement, writing in part, “The situation appears to have been triggered when an individual began running, causing a brief chain reaction within the crowd that lasted only seconds,” adding “at no time were there any confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety.”
WMBF reported that, during last year’s festival, 12 people were taken to the hospital and six signed medical transport waivers after a couple of fights that broke out, causing panic in the crowd.
The town of Atlantic Beach statement also touched on the festival’s economic impact in the community:
“While any incident is unfortunate, it is also important to recognize that this isolated moment does not reflect the overall success of the event. The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival has been held for over 40 years and continues to attract visitors from across the country because of the positive experience it provides. It is unfortunate that this brief incident is overshadowing the many safe, enjoyable, and well-executed aspects of the weekend that are not being widely reported. The continued growth of this event and its positive economic impact on the Grand Strand are a direct reflection of the safe and enjoyable environment that has been consistently maintained. The Town will continue to review all aspects of the event in coordination with our public safety partners to identify any additional improvements moving forward.”
