Seven people were killed in a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, Georgia, according to the Georgia State Patrol. The collision occurred near mile marker 147 around 4:11 p.m. yesterday when a semi-trailer reportedly followed a Dodge van too closely and struck it from behind, causing a chain reaction involving four additional vehicles, as per a FOX 5 Atlanta report.
The impact caused the van to catch fire, and all seven occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been released. The crash shut down all northbound lanes for several hours, with traffic diverted to Exit 140, WSB-TV reported.
A van belonging to Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelter was also involved in the crash. It was transporting 37 cats to a partner shelter in Vermont. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, 32 cats were recovered from the scene, while five remain missing. Several animals and the driver were injured.
The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the incident to determine the exact cause.
