ATLANTA (AP) — A tragic crash on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, Georgia, has left eight people dead, including three adults and five children, after a semitrailer collided with a van and burst into flames Monday afternoon.
Authorities announced Tuesday that 33-year-old Kane Aaron Hammock has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal accident. According to Franka Young, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Safety, Hammock faces eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide and one count of second-degree vehicular feticide. Additional charges include following too closely, no registration, and failure to exercise due care.
The crash occurred when Hammock’s semitrailer reportedly struck a Dodge van that was traveling ahead on I-85, approximately 62 miles northeast of Atlanta. The collision caused the van to ignite, leaving no survivors inside. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims. Young noted that one person may have been pregnant, though this will be confirmed only after an autopsy.
Hammock was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol and booked into the Jackson County Jail. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances leading to this devastating crash.
The tragic loss of life has shocked the Jackson County community, and families and friends are mourning the sudden deaths of the victims.
