Eight Dead in Georgia I-85 Crash After Semi-Truck Hits Van

Eight people were killed Monday afternoon when a semitrailer struck a Dodge van on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, Georgia, causing the van to burst into flames and triggering a multi-vehicle chain-reaction crash, authorities said. The collision occurred in the northbound lanes about 60 to 62 miles northeast of Atlanta at roughly 4:11 p.m., the Georgia Department of Public Safety said.

State police said the semitrailer was following the van too closely when it struck the vehicle, igniting the blaze that consumed the van. The initial impact set off a chain reaction that involved four additional vehicles, according to Georgia State Patrol investigators. Seven people inside the van were pronounced dead at the scene. Deputy Jackson County Coroner Dean Stringer said an eighth body was later discovered at the crash site. Authorities have not released the identities of the deceased.

The crash also involved a vehicle from Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters that was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont. Furkids chief executive Samantha Shelton said the rescue van's driver suffered bruises and cuts to the head. In a post on the group's social media page, Furkids said cages were...