19 Hurt in Crowd Surge at South Carolina Festival

A panicked sprint by one person triggered a chain reaction at a packed motorcycle festival in South Carolina early Sunday, leaving 19 people injured, officials say. Emergency crews declared a mass casualty incident around 1am near the stage area of the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, according to Horry County Fire Rescue. Nineteen people were evaluated, three were taken to hospitals, and others may have gone on their own, Fox News reports. None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, WNEP reports.

Town officials said the scare unfolded when a single individual started running, causing a "stampede incident" that "lasted only seconds." Authorities stressed there were no confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety, and that EMS crews treated patients on site before the event continued. Law enforcement and emergency teams were already stationed throughout the festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors over Memorial Day weekend each year. Calling the episode an "isolated moment," the town said it will review the incident with public safety partners to consider further safety measures.