ATLANTA (AP) — An eighth body has been discovered at the site of a fiery Georgia highway crash between a semitrailer and a van, confirming the death toll as eight, Deputy Jackson County Coroner Dean Stringer reported Tuesday.
The victims tragically lost their lives on Monday afternoon when the semitrailer struck the Dodge van, igniting a fire that consumed both vehicles, according to law enforcement officials.
Authorities revealed that the semitrailer was following too closely to the van along Interstate 85 in Jackson County, located approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta, when the incident occurred. Following the initial collision, four other vehicles were caught in a “chain reaction” crash.
Among the other vehicles involved was a van from Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters. The driver of this van sustained cuts and bruises, as reported by CEO Samantha Shelton.
“In the chaos of the wreckage, cages were crushed, and cats began to flee,” said the rescue organization in a Facebook post.
The group was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont, and although efforts are underway to locate the missing animals, two cats remained unaccounted for as of Tuesday. One cat is reported to be hospitalized in critical condition.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released as the Georgia Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the tragic incident. Seven bodies were discovered at the scene shortly after the crash, with the eighth found later in the vicinity, though no specific details have been disclosed.
“Troopers are still in the process of identifying and confirming the occupants,” said Franka Young, a spokesperson for the department, in an email update.
The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation into the collision.
