JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — Tragedy struck on Monday afternoon when eight members of the same family, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 85 northbound in Jackson County. Authorities described the wreck as one of the most devastating crashes in Georgia’s recent history.
According to the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, all eight victims were traveling together in a Dodge minivan when it was rear-ended by a tanker semi-truck that was reportedly following too closely. The impact ignited an explosive fire that engulfed the vehicle within seconds, trapping everyone inside. When emergency responders arrived, the minivan was already consumed by flames. Seven victims were initially confirmed dead at the scene, and an eighth was later discovered during recovery efforts.
The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. near mile marker 147, just south of Commerce. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said the initial collision sparked a chain reaction involving six vehicles, though the worst devastation was confined to the family’s van. Witnesses recounted scenes of chaos and heartbreak as flames tore through the vehicle while bystanders stood helplessly nearby, unable to assist. “It was over in seconds,” one witness said. “The fire spread so fast, no one could get close.”
Authorities identified the victims through family members as Kenia Ramirez, Darwin Ventura, their 6-year-old daughter Kayle, and Sonia Maribel Ramirez, Kenia’s mother. Also killed were Justin, Andy, Natali, and Evan, all young relatives of the couple. The family had been traveling together when tragedy struck. Kenia Ramirez was expecting another child, prompting authorities to add a second-degree vehicular feticide charge in connection with the unborn baby’s death.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety confirmed that the tanker truck driver, Kane Hammock, was arrested at the scene. He now faces eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, second-degree vehicular feticide, following too closely, distracted driving, and operation of a vehicle without a current plate. Investigators said Hammock failed to brake in time before colliding with the minivan, causing the deadly inferno. The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) continues to investigate whether speed or impairment contributed to the crash.
All northbound lanes of I-85 were closed for hours as firefighters and investigators worked through the charred wreckage. The tragedy has left the Jackson County community reeling. “An entire family lost their lives in an instant,” one state trooper said solemnly. “It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly lives can be shattered on the highway.” Authorities are urging anyone with dashcam footage or information about the crash to contact the Georgia State Patrol Post in Athens as the investigation continues.