- At least 19 people were injured in a stampede at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, early Sunday morning.
- The incident occurred around 1:05 am near South Ocean Boulevard, with Horry County Fire Rescue and local police responding to assist the injured.
- Officials stated the stampede was caused by an individual running, triggering a brief chain reaction in the crowd, and confirmed there were no fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety.
- Three individuals were transported to the hospital, while others sought treatment independently, with all injuries confirmed as non-life-threatening.
- The annual Memorial Day weekend festival, which attracts up to 40,000 visitors, had multiple crowd-control measures in place, and authorities are reviewing the incident for future safety enhancements.
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