Published on October 14, 2025 • 1 minute read
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JEFFERSON, Ga. — According to Deputy Jackson County Coroner Dean Stringer, an eighth body has been found at the scene of a devastating highway crash in Georgia involving a semitrailer and a van.
The tragic incident occurred Monday afternoon when a semitrailer collided with a Dodge van on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Atlanta, causing the van to ignite. Authorities reported that the semitrailer was following the van too closely at the time of the accident.
In addition to the initial collision, four other vehicles were involved in what officials described as a “chain reaction” crash. One of the vehicles was a van operated by Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters. The driver of that van sustained bruises and cuts to his head, as noted by CEO Samantha Shelton.
In the aftermath of the wreck, cages were crushed, leading to some cats escaping, as the organization shared on its Facebook page. The rescue group was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont, and as of Tuesday, two cats remained missing, while one was hospitalized in critical condition.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed. “Troopers are still working to identify and confirm the occupants,” said Franka Young, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Safety, in an email on Tuesday afternoon. Seven individuals in the van were pronounced dead at the scene, and the eighth body was discovered later, though details regarding its location have not been released. The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is currently investigating the incident.