SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. – Attorneys representing the seven people killed in the Oct. 19 Sapelo Island dock collapse conducted a preliminary inspection Thursday. Ben Crump, along with Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, conducted the inspection as part of an ongoing investigation into the causes of the tragic incident.

The collapse occurred at the state-operated ferry dock as the Gullah-Geechee community celebrated its annual Cultural Day festival, an event meant to honor local heritage and provide respite amid the community’s uncertain future. Hundreds of tourists were on the island when the footbridge collapsed, turning what was supposed to be a joyous occasion into a day of pain and loss.

Attorney Ben Crump emphasized the urgency of the inspection and investigation. “Our priority is to get to the truth about what caused this tragic collapse and to ensure that justice is done for the families who have suffered unimaginable loss.” Crump said. “Working alongside world-class structural engineers, geotechnical experts and metallurgists, our legal teams are determined to uncover the factors that led to this devastating failure.”

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Crump added that the collaborative team aims to hold those responsible for the dock failure accountable and push for changes that will protect communities from similar tragedies in the future.

The inspection marks the first phase of a comprehensive investigation as Crump and his team of experts try to identify any structural or procedural failures that may have contributed to the disaster.