Georgia authorities investigating 'catastrophic failure' of dock gangway that collapsed, killing 7

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Georgia authorities said Sunday they are investigating the “catastrophic failure” of a dock gangway that collapsed and killed seven on Sapelo Island, where crowds had gathered for a fall celebration by the island’s tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.

“It is a structural failure. There should be very, very little maintenance to an aluminum gangway like that, but we’ll see what the investigation unfolds,” Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon said at a news conference.

The gangway was installed in 2021, authorities said.

Rabon said three people remained hospitalized in critical condition from Saturday's collapse.

Rabon said “upwards of 40 people” were on the gangway when the “catastrophic failure” occurred, and at least 20 people fell into the water. The gangway connected an outer dock where people board the ferry to another dock onshore.

None of the seven people killed were residents of the island, Rabon said. Eight people were taken to hospitals, at least six of them were initially reported Saturday to have critical injuries.

The ferry dock was rebuilt after Georgia officials in October 2020 settled a federal lawsuit by residents of the tiny community of Hogg Hummock, who complained the state-operated ferry boats and docks they rely upon to travel between Sapelo Island the mainland failed to meet federal accessibility standards for people with disabilities.

The state agreed to demolish and replace outdated docks while upgrading ferry boats to accommodate people in wheelchairs and those with impaired hearing. The state also paid a cash settlement of $750,000.

Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, the McIntosh County Fire Department, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and others searched the water, according to Natural Resources spokesperson Tyler Jones. The agency operates the dock and ferry boats that transport people between the island and the mainland.

A team of engineers and construction specialists were on site early Sunday to begin investigating why the walkway failed, Jones said.

“There was no collision” with a boat or anything else, Jones said. “The thing just collapsed. We don’t know why.”

Helicopters and boats with side-scanning sonar were used in the search, according to a Department of Natural Resources statement.

Among the dead was a chaplain for the state agency, Jones said.

President Joe Biden said federal officials were ready to provide any assistance needed.

Sapelo Island is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of Savannah, reachable from the mainland by boat.

The deadly collapse happened as island residents, family members and tourists gathered for Cultural Day, an annual fall event spotlighting Hogg Hummock, home to a few dozen Black residents. The community of dirt roads and modest homes was founded after the Civil War by former slaves from the cotton plantation of Thomas Spalding.

Hogg Hummock’s slave descendants are extremely close, having been “bonded by family, bonded by history and bonded by struggle,” said Roger Lotson, the only Black member of the McIntosh County Board of Commissioners. His district includes Sapelo Island.

“Everyone is family, and everyone knows each other,” Lotson said. “In any tragedy, especially like this, they are all one. They’re all united. They all feel the same pain and the same hurt.”

Small communities descended from enslaved island populations in the South — known as Gullah, or Geechee in Georgia — are scattered along the coast from North Carolina to Florida. Scholars say their separation from the mainland caused residents to retain much of their African heritage, from their unique dialect to skills and crafts such as cast-net fishing and basket-weaving.

In 1996, Hogg Hummock, also known as Hog Hammock, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the United States’ treasured historic sites.

But the community’s population has been shrinking for decades, and some families have sold their land to outsiders who built vacation homes.

Tax increases and zoning changes by the local government in McIntosh County have been met by protests and lawsuits by Hogg Hummock residents and landowners. They have been battling for the past year to undo zoning changes approved by county commissioners in September 2023 that doubled the size of homes allowed in Hogg Hummock.

Residents say they fear larger homes will lead to tax increases that could force them to sell land that their families have held for generations.

Emily Wagster Pettus reported from Jackson, Mississippi.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon addresses the media at the Sapelo island visitors center, alongside Georgia State Rep. Buddy DeLoach, Rep. Al Williams, Ga House Speaker Jon Burns and McIntosh Sheriffs Stephen Jesup Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Levine)

A portion of the gangway which collapsed Saturday afternoon remains visible on Sapelo Island in McIntosh county, Ga., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Levine)

A portion of the gangway which collapsed Saturday afternoon remains visible on Sapelo Island in McIntosh county, Ga., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Levine)

FILE - The sun rises over Sapelo Island, Ga., a Gullah-Geechee community, on June 10, 2013. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Captain Chris Hodge speaks during a news conference after a gangway collapse on Sapelo Island, Ga in McIntosh county, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis M. Levine)

A hearse heads to Meridian Dock in McIntosh county where several people after a gangway collapsed plunging them into the water, on Sapelo Island, Ga in McIntosh county, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis M. Levine)

Festival goers who attended a Gullah Geechee festival on Sapelo Island leave the Elm Grove Church where they were taken to reunite with loved ones on Sapelo Island, Ga in McIntosh county, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis M. Levine)

LONDON (AP) — Tank Bigsby rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Parker Washington returned a punt 96 yards for a score in Jacksonville’s 32-16 comeback win over the New England Patriots on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.

Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught a touchdown pass as the Jaguars (2-5) erased an early 10-0 deficit.

In his second start, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye led one fourth-quarter scoring drive but couldn't muster a second one as New England (1-6) lost its sixth straight game.

Bigsby scored on a 4-yard run after the Patriots turned the ball over on downs after the two-minute warning.

The win should at least temporarily ease some pressure off Jaguars coach Doug Pederson.

The Jaguars scored on four straight possessions after falling behind early.

Thomas caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to get the Jags on the board and he set up Jacksonville’s go-ahead score when he streaked down the middle of the field and caught a 58-yard pass to the New England 21.

Four plays later, Bigsby’s 1-yard plunge gave the Jags a 14-10 lead.

Washington’s record-setting 96-yard punt return for a touchdown made it 22-10. Lawrence threw to Thomas for the 2-point conversion after the Patriots were offside on the extra point attempt.

Lawrence completed 15 of 20 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. Thomas had five receptions for 89 yards.

The Jags had trouble expanding their lead in the second half.

They opened the second half by driving to the New England 3 but settled for a field goal — increasing their lead to 25-10 — when Christian Kirk couldn’t get a second foot down in the corner of the end zone on a third down throw.

On its next drive, Jacksonville drove down the field on a 17-play drive but Bigsby was stuffed for no gain on a fourth-and-1 from the 6.

Maye got the Patriots back into the end zone less than three minutes later when he found K.J. Osborn for a 22-yard touchdown pass to make it 25-16 after Andre Cisco earlier dropped a would-be interception. The 2-point conversion attempt failed.

In a first for the Patriots this season, they scored on their opening drive. JaMycal Hasty caught a pass in the flat and made Josh Hines-Allen and Cisco miss to get into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown reception.

Maye finished 26 of 37 for 276 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Pats cornerback Christian Gonzalez arrived to Wembley wearing the England shirt of striker Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich star is England's all-time leading scorer and happens to be a big Patriots fan, too. Kane was in attendance to see New England win its sixth Super Bowl title in 2019. ... Matt Turner, a goalkeeper for the U.S. national team and London club Crystal Palace, was in the Wembley crowd.

Patriots: WR DeMario Douglas briefly left in the third quarter with an illness. ... RB Antonio Gibson stayed down after a 9-yard reception in first quarter... OL Layden Robinson (ankle) limped off in first quarter and was ruled out... rookie WR Javon Baker was inactive after missing Friday’s practice with an illness.

Jaguars: OL Cam Robinson was ruled out in the second quarter with a concussion... RB Travis Etienne was inactive with a hamstring injury.

Patriots: Host the New York Jets next Sunday.

Jaguars: Host the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby, right, celebrates his 1-yard rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) hands off to running back Tank Bigsby (4) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Jacksonville Jaguars' Parker Washington breaks from New England Patriots punter Bryce Baringer (17) to score on a 96-yard punt return during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) reacts after his pass reception for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in London. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)