Choas as more than 40,000 descend on Georgia’s Tybee Island for annual Orange Crush party

Chaos descended on Georgia’s Tybee Island as more than 50,000 loud and boozy party goers danced and went wild at the Orange Crush party, an annual unpermitted event. 

The crowd was so rowdy that it overwhelmed police officers that saw seven people injured in a car crash and one woman shot in the back. She suffered injuries from the shooting but there were no fatalities.

Nearly 12,000 vehicles and between 40, 000 to 50,000 people were on the island on Saturday, ‘causing high volumes of gridlock, traffic accidents, crowding, drug and alcohol abuse, noise complaints, illegal parking and litter, officials told WJCL News.

The neighboring islands of Wilmington, Whitemarsh and Talahi islands were also affected. And many of its residents were left out of sorts by the out-of-control event.

Mayor Shirley Sessions said she felt ‘fortunate that no lives were lost and no property destroyed,’ and plans to work with federal and state legislators for future events. She said, ‘going forward, we will work on better solutions.’

The Orange Crush event that is held annually drew students from HBCU students 

Nearly 12,000 vehicles and between 40, 000 to 50,000 people were on the island on Saturday, ‘causing high volumes of gridlock, traffic accidents, crowding, drug and alcohol abuse, noise complaints, illegal parking and litter, officials told WJCL News 

Officials said dozens of law enforcement officers, first responders and other authorities were present, but the impact of this year’s festivities was ‘admittedly large and chaotic,’ Mayor Shirly Sessions said

The Saturday car crash happened on Highway 80 that 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 officers, first responders and other authorities were present, 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.  ‘However, going forward, we will work on better solutions.’

She said she has heard from federal and state legislators who will be speaking with her on ideas to assist with future preparations.  

‘At the end of the day,’ Sessions said, ‘Tybee Island is fortunate that no lives were lost and no property destroyed.’