Atlantic Beach Bike Fest Crowd Stampede Injures 19 During Memorial Day Weekend Event

Nineteen people were injured early Sunday during a crowd stampede at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, according to emergency officials.

Horry County Fire Rescue responded around 1 a.m. near a stage area along South Ocean Boulevard and treated 19 patients. Three people were taken to a hospital, and officials said the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The number of injuries led responders to classify the call as a mass-casualty incident.

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Town officials said the situation appeared to begin when one person started running, triggering a brief chain reaction in the crowd. Officials said there were no confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety.

The event later resumed after law enforcement helped calm the crowd. The incident puts renewed attention on crowd control and emergency planning during one of the Grand Strand’s busiest Memorial Day weekend gatherings.

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