More than a dozen people injured during stage stampede at Atlantic Beach bike fest
More than a dozen people were injured early Sunday morning in a stampede incident during the Atlantic Beach Bike Fest.
Horry County Fire Rescue said it was dispatched to the stage area near South Ocean Boulevard in Atlantic Beach at 1:05 a.m., according to a Facebook post. With the help of on-scene law enforcement, 19 patients were located and evaluated for injuries, none believed to be life-threatening at this time, the post said. Three people were transported to the hospital with injuries, with the possibility of others self-transporting to local hospitals.
It was declared a mass casualty incident because of the number of reported patients, the post said.
The stage on Ocean Boulevard is part of the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, or usually referred to as Black Bike Week. Performances were scheduled on the stage for Saturday night and well into the morning, according to online information. The festival runs through Monday.
A similar incident happened last year during the bike fest when 12 people were sent to the hospital after fights created a mass panic during the concerts, police said. People were injured when they were trampled trying to leave the crowded festival.
In addition to this year’s stage incident, North Myrtle Beach reported crowded roadways and traffic backups along Highway 17 near Atlantic Beach. Police reported in a Facebook post at 10:37 p.m. Saturday that traffic was gridlocked in that area.
North Myrtle Beach implemented a traffic chute and closed side streets in the Atlantic Beach area. The chute helps direct people into Atlantic Beach and starts around 37th Avenue South on Highway 17 and ends around 27th Avenue South. The far right lane of the highway is blocked off with barricades. Those who get into the barricaded area have no way to get out other than to go into Atlantic Beach, loop through the area and exit around 27th Avenue South.
