Nineteen people were injured after panic broke out during the Atlantic Beach Bike Fest in South Carolina early Sunday morning, according to officials.
Horry County Fire Rescue said crews responded around 1 a.m. to what was declared a “mass casualty” incident near the stage area at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival. Authorities said all 19 injuries were non-life-threatening, with three people transported to local hospitals for treatment.
Town officials say there were no confirmed fights, weapons, or active threats. According to a statement from Atlantic Beach, the chaos reportedly started when one person began running, triggering a chain reaction in the crowd that lasted only seconds before law enforcement restored order.
Video shared from the scene showed crowds suddenly sprinting away from the stage area as confusion spread through the festival grounds. The event later resumed after officials addressed the crowd.
The Atlantic Beach Bike Fest, often associated with Black Bike Week, draws thousands of riders and visitors to the Myrtle Beach area every Memorial Day weekend and has been a longtime staple of motorcycle culture on the East Coast.