Stampede at Atlantic Beach Bike Week injures 19, officials say

ATLANTIC BEACH, SC (WMBF/Gray News) - Nineteen people were injured in a stampede at Atlantic Beach Bike Week early Sunday morning, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.

No one was seriously injured, but three people were taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Officials received a call around 1 a.m. about a mass casualty event around the stage.

No fights, threats or weapons were reported, officials said. The stampede appeared to have started when someone starting running.

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

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

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.