Survivors of Sapelo Island gangway collapse sue over structure's failure
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Seven people died when the gangway at Marsh Landing Dock collapsed on Oct. 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Ben Crump Law/complaint filed by plaintiffs
Survivors and family members of victims in last year's gangway collapse on southeast Georgia's Sapelo Island have filed a lawsuit against the companies responsible for the structure's construction.
Why it matters: Seven people died when the dock gangway failed last October during the annual Sapelo Cultural Day, which celebrates Gullah Geechee people and their heritage.
Driving the news: The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Gwinnett County State Court against Stevens & Wilkerson Inc., Centennial Contractors Enterprises Inc., EMC Engineering Services Inc., and Crescent Equipment Co. Inc.
- Attorney Ben Crump and his co-counsel held a press conference Wednesday with people who survived the collapse and family members of those who died.
- Attorneys for the defendants were not listed in the Gwinnett County court system's online portal.
What they're saying: Crump, who spoke at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park on Auburn Avenue, said they're suing "because this tragedy was totally preventable."
- "These seven people did not have to die on the Sapelo Island gangway dock if people would have put safety over money," he said.
Catch up quick: The gangway at Marsh Landing Dock on Sapelo Island collapsed around 3:50pm Oct. 19, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. About 20 people fell into the water.
- The seven who died were Jacqueline Crews Carter, 75; Cynthia Gibbs, 74; Carlotta McIntosh, 93; and Isaiah Thomas, 79, all of Jacksonville, Florida.; Atlanta residents Queen Welch, 76, and 73-year-old William Johnson Jr.; and Charles L. Houston, 77, of Darien.
The intrigue: Years before the collapse, DNR officials expressed concerns about the gangway's structure, AJC reported, which was similar to one that collapsed in September 2022 in the southeast Georgia city of St. Mary's.
- Both gangways had been constructed by the same company, Crescent Equipment Co.
The other side: Carrie González, a spokesperson for SSOE Group, an architect and engineering firm that owns Atlanta-based Stevens & Wilkinson, said in a statement the company can't comment on the litigation but is cooperating with the investigation.
Survivor Regina Brinson said during Wednesday's press conference she struggles with guilt and nightmares, has trouble sleeping and has sought therapy.
- She and her uncle were helping another woman, who also died in the incident, cross the gangway when she heard a loud crack and suddenly dropped into the water.
- Brinson tried to rescue her uncle, but she said he was pulling her underwater. She said she made the painful decision to release her uncle's grip on her so she could make it to the surface.
- "This has not been easy for me or any of my family members whatsoever, so I just ask for continued prayer to get us through this on a daily basis," she said.