UPDATE published on Oct. 14, 2025 @ 5:40 p.m.
According to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the wreck on Interstate 85 northbound Monday afternoon was due to a tractor trailer following too closely, and striking the rear of a van.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) has confirmed the identity of the tractor trailer driver as 33-year-old Kane Aaron Hammock of Gainesville.
The initial rear-end caused a chain reaction involving the van and four other vehicles. The van and tractor trailer became engulfed in flames shortly after.
Hammock has been charged with eight counts of vehicular homicide in the second-degree, one count of feticide by vehicle in the second-degree, following too closely, distracted driving, and operation of a vehicle without a current plate.
There were eight occupants killed in the van according to the Jackson County Deputy Coroner, which were determined to be three adults and five juveniles. Their identities have not yet been determined. The feticide charge is due to the possibility of one adult being pregnant, but will not be confirmed until an autopsy is completed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and GSP have opened a safety investigation into the crash.
Hammock has a bond listed of $93,000.
Original story published on Oct. 14, 2025 @ 5:22 a.m.
Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate what led to a devastating, fatal wreck on I-85 in Jackson County that claimed the lives of seven people Monday afternoon.
All travel lanes of I-85 northbound at mile marker 147 were blocked after a fiery crash involved a tractor trailer and multiple vehicles at around 4:00 p.m. Initial reports from the GSP indicate that a semi-trailer following too close to a Dodge van set off a chain reaction collision with at least four more vehicles.
Early reports indicate that the Dodge van caught fire during the collision after impact, with all seven occupants killed and pronounced dead at the crash scene. Names of the victims have not been released. Details behind what triggered the crash have not been released as of this publication.
Traffic was blocked by safety officials and emergency crews responding to the scene after 4:15 p.m., and diverted traffic onto exit 140 for the early evening hours. We will update this story as details become available.
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