GEORGIA – A lawsuit was filed Wednesday on behalf of victims of the Sapelo Island gangway collapse.
The October 2024 collapse killed seven people and injured several others as hundreds gathered to honor the Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of enslaved Africans.
The complaint highlights serious injuries and lasting trauma and alleges negligence by the engineering and construction companies involved.
Click here to read the full complaint
Civil rights Attorney Ben Crump and Attorney Chadrick Mance, founder of The Mance Law Firm in Savannah, are among the attorneys who submitted the lawsuit on behalf of the victims’ families and survivors.
Janice Carrol, a survivor of the collapse, is among the dozens of plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit.
“For me, that day started out as an exciting moment, because I had never been to Sapelo. First time experience, was excited to see what it was about, how it looked over there. Enjoyed the event. Coming back was something totally different that I didn’t expect. And from that, I still have some problems with it, but, I am still here,” Carrol said.
The collapse occurred Oct. 19 as people were boarding a ferry on Sapelo Island during the annual Fall Cultural Day celebration.
More than 700 people were on the island that day. First responders said about 40 people were on the gangway when it gave way, sending at least 20 into the water.
“It could have been anybody’s family out there that day. That celebration was the largest celebration in modern times for Sapelo Island. It had continued to grow, and folks locally and statewide knew that it was one of the largest celebrations dedicated to this island. And still, this happened,” Mance said during a news conference.
Seven people died in the collapse. Four — Jacqueline Crews Carter, Cynthia Gibbs, Carlotta McIntosh, and Isaiah Thomas — were from Jacksonville. The other three victims — Charles Houston, William Johnson Jr., and Queen Welch — lived in Georgia. More than a dozen others were injured.
RELATED: Jacksonville intends to pay tribute to ‘Sapelo Seven’ with new monument | Georgia DNR installs new gangways for Sapelo Island Ferry after collapse that killed 7 in October | ‘It was horrific’: Jacksonville medical professionals rushed to help victims in Ga. dock gangway collapse
Crump said the lawsuit aims to bring justice and accountability for what he calls a preventable tragedy.
“These seven people did not have to die on the Sapelo Island gangway dock,” Crump said.
News4JAX obtained records last November revealing concerns about the gangway before the collapse. Emails from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources show officials were alerted to a loud popping noise and other issues.
In December 2023, an inspection by Crescent Equipment Company reportedly found no problems. However, an email chain from May 25, 2022, shows the Sapelo Island manager discussing a loud popping sound:
“I have received two separate reports that Monday/Tuesday of this week there was a crowd of people on the 80-foot aluminum ramp at Marsh Landing when a very loud ‘pop’ or ‘crack’ noise was heard. The reports come from UGA employees that are regular riders. We’ve checked the topside welds and are planning to get in a boat and look at the underside welds but I wanted to make you aware of this…”
The email thread continues with the project manager from Centennial Contractor Enterprises, the contractor for the Sapelo Dock Project, reporting on an inspection:
“I inspected the bottom of the large gangway this morning as the tide was going out. I did see a few hairline cracks in welds on the deck planks and did notice one crack that seemed to be completely through approximately 15 to 20 feet from the ferry float. I did not see any issues that would make me concerned for the structural integrity of the gangway.”
The inspector later recommended:
“I suggest we reinspect the gangway in a few months to see if there is any additional weld failures and if so, decide what corrective actions should be taken.”
The lawsuit is expected to challenge these inspection findings and question the safety measures taken.
“We will be seeking maximum justice, unfettered justice, and aggressive justice for these clients. And these are the best firms in the country. And so if there’s ever an opportunity to get justice, this is it,” Mance said.
News4JAX reached out to the companies named in the lawsuit.
Centennial, one of the companies listed as defendants, sent the following statement:
“We have recently learned about the reported lawsuit in connection with the Sapelo Island ferry gangway incident on October 19, 2024. The underlying facts remain the subject of ongoing investigation. We do not comment on pending legal proceedings. Our deepest sympathies are with those who lost loved ones or were injured.”
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but News4JAX reached out for comment.
“The investigation remains ongoing. Findings will be shared with the public upon completion of the investigation,” the DNR said.
