By Shawn Henry 
A Georgia truck driver has been arrested and charged after a devastating crash on Interstate 85 that killed three adults and five children Monday afternoon in Jackson County, roughly 60 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Eighth Victim Confirmed in Fiery I-85 Crash That Killed Entire Georgia Family
According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, investigators determined that the driver of a semitrailer, 33-year-old Kane Aaron Hammock, was following too closely behind a Dodge van when his truck collided with it, igniting a massive fire that consumed both vehicles. The van’s eight occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Hammock now faces eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide and one count of feticide by vehicle, as authorities believe one of the victims may have been pregnant. Additional charges include following too closely, no registration, and failure to exercise due care. He was taken into custody by the Georgia State Patrol and booked into the Jackson County Jail.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released pending autopsy results and family notifications. Georgia State Patrol spokesperson Franka Young confirmed that the cause of the fire and final crash sequence remain under investigation by the agency’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team, with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Authorities said at least four additional vehicles were involved in what they described as a chain-reaction collision following the initial impact. Among them was a van belonging to Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, which was transporting 37 cats to Vermont. The driver suffered minor injuries, but the crash left cages mangled and animals scattered. As of Tuesday, two cats remained missing and one was hospitalized in critical care.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken our entire community,” said Furkids CEO Samantha Shelton, who confirmed the organization’s van was part of the wreck.
Officials continue to investigate what led to the deadly crash, calling it one of the state’s most catastrophic collisions in recent years.