HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. —A devastating boating accident on Friday night has left the Hilton Head community in mourning after two people were killed and two others were hospitalized following a crash in the dark waters of Skull Creek.
The collision occurred around 9:45 p.m. near the waterway between Pinckney Island and the northwest side of Hilton Head Island, a popular area known for its serene views and busy recreational boating scene. Emergency responders from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Coast Guard rushed to the scene following distress reports from nearby vessels.
According to a statement released by the sheriff’s office on Saturday, two of the boat’s four occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The names of the deceased have not yet been released pending notification of family. The two surviving passengers were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been made public.
The crash has cast a dark shadow over the typically vibrant summer season on the island, especially for those near Benny’s Coastal Kitchen, a new restaurant overlooking Skull Creek that now finds itself in view of heartbreak instead of just the horizon.
Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry expressed the community’s shared sorrow in a social media post Saturday afternoon:
“I’m at a loss for words over the tragic boat accident last night. My heart and prayers are with the families of the deceased and those who are injured. May God’s hand provide comfort during these trying times.”
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. As of Saturday evening, it was still unclear which agency would lead the inquiry into what caused the boat to go down so suddenly and violently.
Locals and visitors alike are being urged to practice heightened caution on the water, particularly at night when visibility is limited and waterways can become deceptively dangerous.
As the investigation continues, Hilton Head Island grieves the lives lost—lives that were part of this tight-knit coastal community, lives that ended too soon beneath the moonlit sky of Skull Creek.
Flags will fly at half-staff in several parts of Beaufort County this weekend in remembrance of the victims.