Choas as more than 40,000 descend on Georgia’s Tybee Island for annual Orange Crush party
Chaos as 50,000 people descend on Georgia’s Tybee Island for Orange Crush as police are ‘overwhelmed’ by cars stuck in a gridlock, seven are injured in a crash and a woman is shot in the back
- The annual event is attended by most HBCU students
- Nearly 12,000 vehicles were on the island on Saturday, causing a massive traffic jam
- A woman was shot in the back and seven people were injured in a car crash
Chaos reigned on Georgia’s Tybee Island as more than 50,000 loud and drunk revelers danced and went wild at the Orange Crush party, an annual non-permitted event.
The crowd was so rowdy that it overwhelmed police officers who saw seven people injured in a car crash and a woman shot in the back. She was injured in the shooting, but there were no fatalities.
Nearly 12,000 vehicles and between 40,000 and 50,000 people were on the island on Saturday, leading to major traffic congestion, road accidents, crowding, drug and alcohol abuse, noise complaints, illegal parking and litter, officials said. WJCL news.
The neighboring islands of Wilmington, Whitemarsh and Talahi were also affected. And many of its residents were left out by the out-of-control event.
Mayor Shirley Sessions said she felt “lucky that no lives were lost and no property destroyed,” and plans to work with federal and state lawmakers for future events. She said: ‘in the future we will work on better solutions.’
Chaos reigned on Georgia’s Tybee Island as more than 50,000 loud and drunk revelers danced and went wild at the Orange Crush party, an annual non-permitted event
The Orange Crush event held annually attracted students from HBCU students
Nearly 12,000 vehicles and between 40,000 and 50,000 people were on the island on Saturday, leading to major traffic congestion, traffic accidents, crowds, drug and alcohol abuse, noise complaints, illegal parking and litter, officials told WJCL News
Officials said dozens of law enforcement, first responders and other authorities were in attendance, but the impact of this year’s festivities was “admittedly large and chaotic,” Mayor Shirly Sessions said.
Saturday’s car accident occurred on Highway 80, which sent seven people to the hospital and a traffic incident near Fort Pulaski resulted in the shooting of a female pedestrian.
Officials said dozens of law enforcement, first responders and other authorities were in attendance, but the impact of this year’s festivities was “admittedly large and chaotic,” Mayor Shirly Sessions said.
“Because Tybee Island is a public beach, we are limited in what we can do to control this event,” she said. ‘But in the future we will work on better solutions.’
She said she has heard from federal and state lawmakers who will talk to her about ideas to help with future preparations.
“In the end,” Sessions said, “Tybee Island is lucky that no lives were lost and no property was destroyed.”