Mass Casualty Event during Black Bike Week in South Carolina

ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. — A Memorial Day weekend celebration turned chaotic Saturday night when fights broke out at a concert during the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival, commonly known as Black Bike Week, leading to a stampede that injured multiple people. Authorities have declared the incident a "mass casualty event," with at least 10 individuals transported to local hospitals for treatment.

The annual event, held in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, attracts thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts, many from the Black community, for a weekend of music, biking, and cultural festivities. According to reports, an argument sparked panic among concertgoers around 1 a.m. Sunday, causing a surge toward the stage that escalated into a stampede. Witnesses described a frantic scene, with shoes, sunglasses, and personal belongings scattered across the ground as attendees fled.

Hilton Dewitt, a witness, told Myrtle Beach Sun News, "They started panicking. It was a stampede." Ambulances and police quickly responded, shutting down the concert and securing the area. The Horry County Police Department assisted local authorities in managing the situation, given Atlantic Beach’s small police force of approximately five officers.

Atlantic Beach Interim Police Chief Carlos Castillo declined to provide immediate details, stating to ABC affiliate WPDE that further information would be released later. The exact number of injuries and their severity remain unconfirmed by officials, though The US Sun reported at least 10 hospitalizations. Social media posts from the scene showed a significant police presence amid large crowds, highlighting the scale of the disruption.

Black Bike Week, officially the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, has been a tradition of the region for decades, drawing bikers from across the Southeast. The event celebrates motorcycle culture with custom bikes, live music, and community gatherings. However, this year’s incident has raised concerns about safety protocols, with authorities now investigating the circumstances that led to the violence and subsequent stampede.

As of Sunday morning, no official statement has been released regarding whether the festival will continue through the holiday weekend. The investigation is ongoing, and police have promised updates as more details emerge.

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