Eight Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-85 in Commerce, Georgia

Jackson County, GA – On October 13, 2025, a six-vehicle crash on I-85 northbound near mile marker 147 in Commerce claimed the lives of eight occupants in a Dodge Grand Caravan. The crash occurred when a semi-trailer, following too closely, struck the rear of the van, triggering a chain reaction that involved four additional vehicles. Both the van and tractor-trailer caught fire.

The victims include three adults and five juveniles; authorities have not yet confirmed identities. There is a possibility that one adult was pregnant, pending autopsy results.

The driver of the semi, 33-year-old Kane Aaron Hammock of Gainesville, GA, was arrested and charged with eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, one count of second-degree feticide by vehicle, following too closely, no registration, and failure to exercise due care.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in coordination with Georgia State Patrol, has opened a safety investigation, and the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is continuing its investigation. All details remain preliminary.