19 injured in stampede at Atlantic Beach Bike Fest

ATLANTIC BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Nineteen people were injured in a stampede at the Atlantic Beach Bike Fest early Sunday morning, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.

All 19 people suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Three were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Horry County Fire Rescue received the call about the mass casualty event around 1 a.m. in the area of a stage where performers performed throughout the weekend.

WMBF received video footage of the crowd running during the bike fest from resident Amanda Henry.

The Atlantic Beach Bike Fest has been going on since Friday, attracting thousands of bikers from around the country.

The town of Atlantic Beach issued a statement about the situation Sunday morning.

Town officials said there were no confirmed fights, weapons or direct threats to public safety.

Instead, officials said it appears the stampede happened when someone started running, sparking a chain reaction within the crowd that lasted only seconds.

Angel Williams is visiting Atlantic Beach and said she was there during the stampede.

“I didn’t see anything that alarmed us,” Williams said. “However, the crowd started to just run and of course you go into survival mode and you start to run with them.”

According to the town’s statement, personnel with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded immediately.

“Their swift response helped calm attendees and restore order,” the town said.

SLED took the stage to address the situation, and the event later resumed.

“For most of the event it was nice and there was so many of us so for it to turn out as well as it did for so long I wouldn’t have expected that stampede,” said Emilia Kornegay who is visiting Atlantic Beach for Bike Fest.

In the statement, the town also highlighted its proactive safety measures over the weekend, noting that traffic was suspended on Friday and again on Saturday for safety reasons.

The town also said the stage was shut down early one night to help with crowd control.

This “isolated moment” does not reflect the event’s overall success, according to the town.

“The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival has been held for over 40 years and continues to attract visitors from across the country because of the positive experience it provides,” the town said. “It is unfortunate that this brief incident is overshadowing the many safe, enjoyable, and well-executed aspects of the weekend that are not being widely reported.”

During last year’s festival, 12 people were taken to the hospital and six signed medical transport waivers after a couple of fights that broke out, causing panic in the crowd.

The town said it will continue to review all aspects of the event in coordination with public safety partners to identify any additional improvements moving forward.

The town’s full statement can be viewed below.

The Town of Atlantic Beach would like to provide context regarding the incident that occurred early Sunday morning during the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival.First and foremost, we want to express our sincere concern for anyone who was injured or impacted. Any situation where individuals are harmed is taken seriously, and our thoughts are with those affected as they recover. The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remains our highest priority.The Town, in coordination with our public safety partners—including SLED, South Carolina Highway Patrol, SCDNR, Horry County Sheriff Office, and EMS—had comprehensive measures in place throughout the event. All agencies were strategically positioned, actively monitoring the crowd, and prepared to respond immediately if needed.At no time were there any confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety. The situation appears to have been triggered when an individual began running, causing a brief chain reaction within the crowd that lasted only seconds. SLED and SCDNR personnel responded immediately. SLED personnel quickly accessed the stage and took control of the situation, addressing the crowd multiple times and clearly communicating that no incident had occurred and that individuals had simply started running. Their swift response helped calm attendees and restore order.EMS was on site and provided prompt medical attention to those affected. Once the situation was stabilized, the event resumed normal operations.It is important to highlight that the Town implemented proactive safety measures throughout the weekend. On Friday, all incoming traffic into Atlantic Beach was suspended at 11:00 p.m. due to safety concerns, and the stage was shut down early to help control the crowd and maintain a safe environment. On Saturday, traffic was again suspended earlier, at approximately 9:30 p.m., as a precautionary measure. These actions contributed to safe and incident-free conditions on prior nights and reflect the Town’s commitment to proactive planning and crowd management.While any incident is unfortunate, it is also important to recognize that this isolated moment does not reflect the overall success of the event. The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival has been held for over 40 years and continues to attract visitors from across the country because of the positive experience it provides. It is unfortunate that this brief incident is overshadowing the many safe, enjoyable, and well-executed aspects of the weekend that are not being widely reported. The continued growth of this event and its positive economic impact on the Grand Strand are a direct reflection of the safe and enjoyable environment that has been consistently maintained.The Town will continue to review all aspects of the event in coordination with our public safety partners to identify any additional improvements moving forward. We remain committed to ensuring that Atlantic Beach continues to be a safe and welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike.“Our focus is on making sure people understand what actually occurred and the measures that were in place,” said Interim Town Manager Titus Leaks. “This was a brief crowd reaction that was quickly identified and managed by law enforcement who were already in position. We planned ahead, we responded quickly, and we will continue to build on that to ensure the safety of everyone who visits Atlantic Beach.”

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