JACKSON COUNTY, Ga — A tight-knit Hispanic family is being mourned by loved ones and the broader Georgia community after eight members of the same family, including two young children and an expectant mother, were tragically killed in a horrific multi-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Interstate 85 northbound near Commerce.
According to the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, all eight victims were traveling in a Dodge minivan when it was rear-ended by a tanker semi-truck reportedly following too closely. The violent impact caused the van to burst into flames, trapping everyone inside.
Family members identified the victims as Maribel Ramirez, 42; Justin Ramirez, 16; Andy Ramirez, 14; Natali Ramirez, 11; Evan Ramirez, 3; Kenia Ramirez, 22; Darwin Ventura, 23—who was three months pregnant—and Kayle Ventura, 4.
Authorities say the tanker driver, Kane Hammock, has been arrested and charged with eight counts of vehicular homicide, vehicular feticide, distracted driving, and following too closely.
“This is one of the most tragic traffic incidents we’ve seen in recent memory,” a Georgia State Trooper said. “An entire family lost their lives in an instant.”
The Georgia State Patrol’s Collision Reconstruction Team continues to investigate the devastating crash, which shut down I-85 northbound for several hours Monday evening.
Leave a Reply