COMMERCE, Ga. — Eight people were killed Monday afternoon in a fiery six-vehicle crash on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
Troopers from Post 32 in Athens were called to the scene around 4:11 p.m. October 13, after a semi-trailer struck the rear of a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan near mile marker 147 northbound in Commerce. The impact caused a chain reaction involving four other vehicles. Both the van and the tractor-trailer burst into flames following the collision.
Family killed in wreck
Jackson County Deputy Coroner Jeff Rogers confirmed that all eight occupants of the van — three adults and five juveniles — died at the scene. Their identities have not yet been officially released. Rogers said there is a possibility one of the victims was pregnant, which will be determined during an autopsy.
According to WSB-TV, the victims were members of a Gwinnett County family, with the children ranging in age from 2 to 16. The family was reportedly traveling to the Tanger Outlet shopping center in Commerce at the time of the crash. Authorities are using dental records to identify the victims.
“Troopers are still trying to identify and confirm the occupants,” said Franka Young, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
Chain reaction wreck
Four other vehicles were involved in what officials described as a “chain reaction” following the initial impact.
One of the vehicles belonged to Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, based in Cumming, Georgia. The organization said its van driver suffered bruises and cuts to his head.
“In the chaos of the wreckage, cages were crushed, and cats began to flee,” the nonprofit wrote on Facebook. The group was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont. As of Tuesday, two cats remained missing, and one was in critical condition at a veterinary hospital, according to CEO Samantha Shelton.
Truck driver charged
Investigators identified the truck driver as Kane Aaron Hammock, 33, of Gainesville. Hammock was arrested and charged with eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, one count of second-degree feticide by vehicle, and several traffic violations, including following too closely, no registration, and failure to exercise due care.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened a safety investigation in coordination with the Georgia State Patrol. The agency’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team continues to process evidence from the scene.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing, and findings are preliminary pending further review.
