A devastating crash on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, Georgia has left eight people dead, including five children, after a semi-truck carrying chicken feed slammed into the back of a minivan, triggering a massive six-vehicle pileup.
The collision occurred Monday afternoon in the northbound lanes of I-85, just south of mile marker 147. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the semi-trailer rear-ended a Dodge Grand Caravan, which immediately caught fire. All seven passengers inside the van — three adults and five children — were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials confirmed all victims were members of the same family.
A day later, authorities confirmed an eighth fatality from the pileup, raising the death toll further.
The driver of the semi-truck, Kane Hammock, 33, of Gainesville, Georgia, was taken into custody and now faces serious charges — including eight counts of vehicular homicide, feticide, following too closely, and failure to exercise due care.
Adding to the tragedy, one of the other vehicles involved belonged to Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters — Georgia’s largest no-kill animal shelter. The van was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont when it was caught in the pileup. The driver was injured, multiple cats were hurt, and five cats remain missing.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened a formal safety investigation into the crash alongside the Georgia State Patrol.
All northbound lanes of I-85 remained closed until nearly 10 p.m. following the collision. Identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Full investigation updates, victim details, and what happens next with the driver — follow the complete story at thecmeaglet.com
