Georgia authorities investigating a dock gangway collapse that killed 7 on a historic island

Associated Press

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Georgia authorities say they are investigating the catastrophic failure of a dock gangway that collapsed, killing seven on Sapelo Island off the state’s Atlantic seacoast. Crowds gathered Saturday for a fall celebration by the historic island’s tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon says the collapse of the 3-year-old gangway was a structural failure. Seven people were killed in the collapse, and Rabon says three remained hospitalized in critical condition Sunday. Rabon says dozens of people were on the gangway when it collapsed, and at least 20 fell into the water. No roads connect the island to the mainland.