‘Engulfed in Flames’: Georgia Semitruck Driver Charged After Fiery Crash Kills 8, Including 5 Children

COMMERCE, GEORGIA — A tragic multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 85 left eight people dead, including five children, after a semitruck plowed into a minivan, igniting a fiery chain reaction that devastated several families.

Authorities say 33-year-old Kane Aaron Hammock has been arrested and charged with eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, among other offenses, following the October 13 crash just south of Commerce, Georgia.

Semitruck Slammed Into Minivan, Triggering Chain Reaction

According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, troopers responded to reports of a six-vehicle pileup at approximately 4:11 p.m. Monday on northbound I-85.

Investigators determined that Hammock was “following too closely” when his semi-trailer struck the rear of a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan, causing both vehicles to burst into flames and collide with four additional cars.

“After impact, the Dodge van became engulfed in flames along with the tractor-trailer,” authorities said in a press statement.

When first responders arrived, the van was already fully engulfed, leaving no survivors inside.

Eight Victims Identified, Including Pregnant Woman

Jackson County Deputy Coroner Jeff Rogers confirmed that all eight victims—five children and three adults—were occupants of the minivan.

Local reports identified the victims as Kenia Ramirez, Darwin Ventura, their child Kayle, Maribel Ramirez (Kenia’s mother), and her children Justin, Andy, Natali, and Evan. Family members told reporters that Kenia Ramirez was pregnant with the couple’s second child.

The youngest victim was just 2 years old, and the oldest was 42, according to WXIA-TV.

Authorities said an autopsy is underway to confirm the pregnancy, with one additional count of feticide by vehicle among Hammock’s charges.

Truck Driver Faces Multiple Charges

In addition to vehicular homicide, Hammock is charged with second-degree feticide by vehicle, following too closely, failure to exercise due care, and driving without registration.

All of the charges are classified as misdemeanors, though prosecutors said additional counts could follow once the investigation is complete.

The Georgia State Patrol has not released Hammock’s blood test results or details about possible impairment, but investigators cited reckless following distance and driver error as the primary causes of the deadly crash.

Animal Rescue Volunteer Survives Fiery Wreck

Among the other drivers caught in the pileup was Michael Rullan, a volunteer with Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, who was transporting 37 rescue cats from Georgia to Vermont.

“I was thrown to the back and trapped between the kennels and the cargo door,” Rullan told WXIA.

The shelter later confirmed that several cats were missing after the crash, with two still unaccounted for and one in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon.

Community in Mourning

As investigators work to reconstruct the deadly collision, memorials have begun forming for the Ramirez-Ventura family, whose relatives described them as “hardworking, joyful, and deeply loved.”

Officials said the crash serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of tailgating and how quickly one lapse in judgment can lead to tragedy.

Hammock remains in custody at the Jackson County Jail while the investigation continues.

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