SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Bureau of Investigation have confirmed they are investigating the collapse of the gangway at the Marsh Landing Dock on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, which killed seven people Saturday.
The barrier island of Sapelo and its Hog Hammock community (also known as Hog Hummock) is home to dozens of Gullah Geechee people – descendants of Black slaves. The collapse happened as crowds gathered on the island in celebration of the Gullah Geechee as part of Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month. None of the victims called Sapelo home; four were from Jacksonville, Florida and three were from Georgia.
On Monday, the gangway was transported to a “secured facility” to be examined by the Critical Incident Reconstruction Team of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the GBI.
The investigation aims to uncover what caused the “catastrophic structural failure of the gangway,” Georgia DNR said.
The department confirmed in a statement that the gangway was last inspected in Dec. 2023, and both the top and bottom were examined. According to that statement, “no areas of concern were present.”
During a press conference Sunday, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon said the gangway should have handled its listed capacity, which he did not have immediately available. An additional 40 staff were on-site Saturday for the event.
Rabon said he was unaware of any inspections post-Hurricane Helene or past complaints about the infrastructure. He said there is no policy requiring an inspection after a storm.
Francys Johnson, a partner at Davis Bozeman Johnson Law, says his firm will join attorneys Ben Crump and Chadrick Mance in representing the deceased and injured. During a press conference Monday, Johnson said that while the DNR is doing their “due diligence,” the attorneys involved will demand answers.
“One of the questions that remains in my mind, as I’ve gone over and visited and talked with the residents of Hog Hammock and Sapelo, is that this island is maintained, and the ferry service is operated, and that gangway is maintained, by the Department of Natural Resources. What happened? And why were the invited guests of the Sapelo community…not safe in crossing that gangway?” he said.
He later added, “The state is not necessarily the best actor to be investigating itself.”
Members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, as well as the attorneys, visited Sapelo Monday.
Georgia State House Rep. Carl Gilliard, who serves as chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, spoke to the press ahead of meeting with the victims’ families. He said that the GLBC will join in demanding answers from the state. “What are we going to do to maintain that this will never happen again?”
He said that though none of the victims were Sapelo residents, the community of Sapelo is enduring trauma. Gilliard says that the people of Sapelo are often forgotten and the state needs to ensure they provide support.
“It’s time that the nation focuses their eyes on Sapelo,” he said. He wants counseling to be provided for the community, and as a member of the Appropriations Committee, plans to look into allocating funds to Sapelo.
Sapelo resident J.R. Grovnar, who made headlines after he rescued a baby during the gangway collapse, said he reported a flaw in the gangway “three to four months ago.” He also said a member of his family had reported concerns.
“The state of Georgia don’t care about us Sapelo people,” he said. Grovnar told members of the press blankets which had been used to cover bodies were still laying outside.
Gilliard echoed that sentiment during his remarks, saying the state had neglected Sapelo leading up to the collapse.