Homicide Charges Filed After Fiery Crash on Georgia Highway
A semitrailer driver has been arrested and charged with homicide following a crash that claimed the lives of three adults and five children on I-85 in Jackson County, Georgia, on Monday afternoon.
Kane Aaron Hammock, 33, faces eight counts of vehicular homicide in the second degree and one count of feticide by a vehicle in the second degree, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. He has also been charged with following too closely, lack of registration, and failure to exercise due care.
The collision occurred around 3 p.m. when Hammock's semitrailer struck a Dodge van, leading to a fire. Authorities noted that four additional vehicles were involved in a “chain reaction” crash. The identities of the deceased, including one possible pregnant victim, have yet to be released.
Hammock was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol and booked into Jackson County Jail. No attorney information was available.
In addition, a van from Furkids Animal Rescue was involved, resulting in injuries to its driver. The organization reported that among the 37 cats being transported, some escaped following the wreck, with at least one hospitalized in critical condition.
The crash remains under investigation by both the Georgia State Patrol's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team and the National Transportation Safety Board.