Sapelo Island Dock Inspected After 7 Die In Collapse

SAPELO ISLAND, GA — A gangway that led to seven people dying and others injured after it crumbled during an Oct. 19 celebration at Sapelo Island is being inspected Thursday, representatives for civil rights Attorney Ben Crump said in a news release.

Three days after the deadly collapse of the Marsh Landing Dock aluminum gangway, Crump announced his office was representing the families of those who were killed in the tragedy.

The preliminary inspection of the dock is being completed in partnership with Attorney General Chris Carr's office and the Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Bendesky law firm, according to the release. It is the first step in the probe of factors that led to the caving in of the dock.

"Our priority is to get to the truth of what caused this tragic collapse and to ensure that justice is served for the families who have suffered unimaginable loss," Crump said in the release.

"Working alongside world-class structural engineers, geotechnical experts and metallurgists, our legal teams are determined to uncover the factors that led to this devastating failure, which took place as the Gullah-Geechee community gathered for their cherished Culture Day celebration. We aim to hold accountable those responsible for this preventable disaster and advocate for changes that will protect communities from similar tragedies in the future.”

The seven people who were killed in the Sapelo Island dock collapse were reportedly identified as:

• Jacqueline Crews Carter, 75, of Jacksonville
• Cynthia Gibbs, 74, of Jacksonville
• Carlotta McIntosh, 93, of Jacksonville
• Isaiah Thomas, 79, of Jacksonville
• William Johnson, Jr., 73, of Atlanta
• Queen Welch, 76, of Atlanta
• Charles Houston, 77, of Darien

Houston was a chaplain for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia State Patrol, DNR Commissioner Walter Rabon said.

The collapse occurred around 4:30 p.m., Oct. 19, at the gangway leading from the dock to the ferry.

It took place after at least 700 people gathered for Cultural Day, a celebration sponsored by the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society.

Rabon said during a past news conference that the gangway failure was structural. He added the land side of the gangway was attached while the other side remained in the water.

Maintenance to the gangway should have been minimal, Rabon said. The DNR previously said the last time the gangway was inspected was in December 2023 on its top and bottom sides.

Sapelo Island, which sits between Savannah and St. Marys rivers, is home to the last Geechee-Gullah community, Hogg Hummock. Geechee-Gullah is comprised of descendants of enslaved people who were taken to the island in 1802.

“The tragic deaths and injuries caused by the collapse of the Sapelo Island dock gangway are devastating for these families and the entire community," Crump said in the past. "We will not rest until we uncover the truth behind this catastrophic failure and hold those responsible accountable. This should never have happened, and it is crucial that we prevent future tragedies by addressing the negligence that led to this horrific event.”