ATLANTA (AP) — In a grim update from a tragic highway crash in Georgia, authorities announced today that an eighth body has been recovered from the wreckage of a deadly collision between a semi-trailer and a van. The incident, which occurred on Monday afternoon on Interstate 85, has already seen the confirmed deaths of seven individuals from the van.
According to law enforcement, the collision was caused by the semi-trailer following too closely behind the Dodge van, leading to a catastrophic impact that ignited a fire. The chaos expanded with four additional vehicles becoming entangled in what officials described as a 'chain reaction' crash.
Among the affected was a van operated by Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, which was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont. Eyewitness accounts indicated that in the tumultuous aftermath, many cages were destroyed, and several cats fled the scene, with two still missing and one currently receiving critical care.
The identities of all individuals involved, including the van passengers and the truck driver, have not yet been released as authorities continue to investigate the tragedy. Franka Young, a representative from the Georgia Department of Public Safety, stated that the agency's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is working diligently to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash and to identify the occupants of the vehicles.
As the community grapples with this unexpected tragedy, local leadership and residents extend support to the families affected by this harrowing event.
According to law enforcement, the collision was caused by the semi-trailer following too closely behind the Dodge van, leading to a catastrophic impact that ignited a fire. The chaos expanded with four additional vehicles becoming entangled in what officials described as a 'chain reaction' crash.
Among the affected was a van operated by Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters, which was transporting 37 cats to a shelter in Vermont. Eyewitness accounts indicated that in the tumultuous aftermath, many cages were destroyed, and several cats fled the scene, with two still missing and one currently receiving critical care.
The identities of all individuals involved, including the van passengers and the truck driver, have not yet been released as authorities continue to investigate the tragedy. Franka Young, a representative from the Georgia Department of Public Safety, stated that the agency's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is working diligently to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash and to identify the occupants of the vehicles.
As the community grapples with this unexpected tragedy, local leadership and residents extend support to the families affected by this harrowing event.
