A massive alcohol-fueled brawl on a South Carolina river sandbar during an annual boating event left three people with severe injuries and resulted in six arrests, exposing the dangerous combination of underage drinking and remote waterway gatherings.

Chaos Erupts During Annual River Event

Video captured dozens of people, mostly shirtless men, exchanging punches and shoves on a sandbar in the middle of the Congaree River in Calhoun County on June 6. The melee occurred during the Sparkleberry Duck Run, an annual event where participants set up tents and duck boats along the river. The popular sandbar gathering spot became the scene of uncontrolled violence as boats remained parked nearby while bystanders filmed the chaos unfolding around them.

The footage shows men in bathing suits and women in bikinis stumbling and fighting, with one individual being lifted off the ground and thrown down. Sheriff Thomas Summers confirmed alcohol played a central role in the incident, with several participants drinking underage. Three victims suffered eye swelling and head injuries severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention, though authorities suspect additional unreported injuries occurred during the widespread fighting.

Six Face Assault Charges

Calhoun County authorities arrested five men and one woman following the June 6 incident. Brendan Bonds, Hunter Dalzell, Lucas Scott, Edward Scott, Austin Mizzel, and Taylor Knudson now face various degrees of assault charges. Sheriff Summers emphasized the severity of the situation, noting the number of people involved created extreme danger. He warned that mixing alcohol consumption with water activities creates a volatile situation that can quickly spiral beyond control, particularly when underage drinking occurs in remote locations with limited law enforcement presence.

Growing Concerns Over River Safety

The Sparkleberry Duck Run incident highlights ongoing challenges with managing large gatherings at remote waterway locations where alcohol flows freely and supervision remains minimal. Sheriff Summers expressed concern about the scale of violence witnessed, stating the injuries could have been far worse given the number of participants throwing punches. The arrests serve as a warning about the legal consequences awaiting those who let celebrations turn violent, particularly when underage drinking contributes to the breakdown of order. Authorities continue investigating whether additional charges will be filed as they review footage and interview witnesses who documented the widespread brawl.