In brief
A serious highway crash in Jackson County, Georgia, has resulted in the deaths of eight people, as authorities recover the eighth body from the scene. The accident involved a semitrailer and a Dodge van, which caught fire following the collision. Rescue efforts were complicated by the presence of an additional vehicle transporting animals, leaving some cats missing and one hospitalized. The investigation is ongoing as officials seek to identify the victims.
ATLANTA (AP) — In a harrowing incident on Monday afternoon, an eighth body was found at the scene of a fiery crash on a Georgia highway involving a semitrailer and a van, confirmed Deputy Jackson County Coroner Dean Stringer.
The crash took place on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, approximately 62 miles northeast of Atlanta. Law enforcement reported that the semitrailer was following too closely to the Dodge van, leading to the collision which resulted in a fire.
The crash instigated a chain reaction, involving four additional vehicles. Among them was a van operated by Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, tasked with transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont. Furkids CEO Samantha Shelton reported that the driver of their van sustained bruises and cuts, and amid the wreckage, several cages were crushed, allowing some cats to escape. By Tuesday, two cats remained missing while one required urgent medical care in a critical condition.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the deceased. In an effort to ascertain the details of the victims, Franka Young, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Safety, noted that troopers are still working to confirm the identities. Initial reports indicated that seven individuals perished at the scene of the crash, with the eighth body located subsequently. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team.
