Devastating Highway Crash Claims Eight Lives in Georgia

Thu Oct 16 2025 13:43:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A tragic multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 85 results in the deaths of eight individuals, including seven found at the scene and one recovered later. The crash involved a semitrailer and a van transporting animals, leading to an urgent rescue for leftover cats from the incident.

An eighth body has been discovered at the site of a devastating crash on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, Georgia, escalating the death toll to eight. The accident occurred when a semitrailer collided with a Dodge van, igniting a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles. The surviving driver from a van belonged to Furkids Animal Rescue, who was taking 37 cats to Vermont. The investigation is ongoing, and the identities of the deceased are yet to be released.

ATLANTA (FlashPoint) — Authorities have confirmed that an eighth body was found at the crash site of a catastrophic highway accident in Georgia. This tragic event unfolded on a stretch of Interstate 85 in Jackson County, approximately 62 miles northeast of Atlanta, on Monday afternoon. Initial reports indicate that a semitrailer struck a Dodge van, resulting in a fire that took the lives of seven individuals at the scene, with one more body discovered later.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the semitrailer was following the van too closely when the collision occurred, sparking multiple other vehicle accidents in what was described as a chain reaction. Among the vehicles involved was a van from Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, which was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont. The driver of this van sustained non-life-threatening injuries but reported severe damage to their vehicle and terrified animals. CEO Samantha Shelton remarked on the situation, noting that amidst the chaos, several cat cages were destroyed, leading some cats to escape. As of Tuesday, two of those cats remain unaccounted for, while one is hospitalized in critical condition.

The identities of those killed in the accident have not been disclosed, and an investigation by the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is currently underway to determine the circumstances that led to this tragic event.