Witnesses and survivors of a gangway collapse at a dock in Georgia are calling for a federal investigation after a “catastrophic failure” killed seven people traveling to a festival celebrating Gullah Geechee history. Regina Brinson described the moment the dock collapsed, causing her and others to fall into the water. She recounted the harrowing experience of trying to save her uncle, only to see him float away. Katrena Alexander also narrowly avoided falling into the water and expressed shock at the tragic scene. The victims of the collapse were all 73 and older, and their families are demanding accountability for the inadequate infrastructure that led to the disaster. Attorney Ben Crump is representing some of the families and is calling for a federal criminal investigation into the incident. Local resident JR Grovner had previously raised concerns about the dock’s condition to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The investigation is ongoing, with questions raised about the safety of the gangway, which was last inspected in 2023. The victims had traveled to Sapelo Island to celebrate the Gullah Geechee culture, a community descended from enslaved Africans with a unique blend of African and American life. The tragic incident has sparked a call for justice and accountability to prevent future tragedies.
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