Carlotta McIntosh Obituary, Death – The oldest among the seven victims who lost their lives in a dock gangway collapse on Georgia’s Sapelo Island on Saturday was a retired special education teacher named Carlotta McIntosh, aged 93. Her granddaughter shared this information with News4JAX, highlighting McIntosh’s legacy and the impact of her loss. McIntosh was one of four victims from Jacksonville.
The other victims have been identified as follows:
– Isaiah Thomas, 79, from Jacksonville
– Carlotta McIntosh, 93, from Jacksonville
– Jacqueline Crews Carter, 75, from Jacksonville
– Cynthia Alynn Gibbs, 74, from Jacksonville
– Charles League Houston, 77, from Darien, Georgia
– Queen Welch, 76, from Atlanta
– William Lee Johnson Jr., 73, from the Atlanta area
The tragedy occurred during a fall celebration organized by the island’s small Gullah-Geechee community, comprised of descendants of Black slaves. As crowds gathered to partake in the festivities, first responders reported that as many as 40 people were on the dock gangway when it suddenly collapsed, resulting in at least 20 individuals falling into the water.
Two medical professionals from Jacksonville, who were present during the incident, described the scene as horrific. Tracey Ramey-Sheppard, a nurse practitioner, stated, “It was horrific,” while nurse Teresa Haywood remarked, “It wasn’t good at all,” emphasizing the severity of the situation they witnessed.
Jacksonville City Councilman Rahman Johnson released a statement on Monday regarding the unfortunate ferry dock collapse. In his statement, Johnson noted that he personally knew two of the victims, including McIntosh, underscoring the community’s grief over the loss of life.
In response to the incident, a comprehensive investigation is currently underway, involving local, state, and federal agencies. This investigation will look into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, which the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has described as a “failure of a gangway.” Officials indicated that the gangway should have required minimal maintenance and was subject to daily inspections.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of these individuals, reflecting on their lives and contributions, while seeking answers about the tragic events that led to this devastating accident.