Crime
Truck driver Kane Hammock arrested and charged in the fiery I-85 crash that killed eight people
JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities have confirmed that eight people—all members of the same family—were killed in a devastating multi-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Interstate 85 northbound in Jackson County.
According to the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, all eight victims were traveling together in a Dodge minivan when it was rear-ended by a tanker semi-truck that was reportedly following too closely.
The impact caused the minivan to burst into flames, trapping everyone inside.
Emergency responders initially reported seven fatalities at the scene, but a subsequent search of the wreckage led to the discovery of an eighth victim, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims range in age from 2 to 42 years old, officials said.
The crash occurred shortly after 4:00 p.m. near mile marker 147, just south of Commerce, Georgia.
According to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the initial impact triggered a chain reaction involving six vehicles, though the most catastrophic damage was confined to the family’s van.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety identified the driver of the tanker truck as Kane Hammock, who was taken into custody following the crash.
Hammock faces eight counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, second-degree vehicular feticide, following too closely, distracted driving, and operation of a vehicle without a current plate.
Investigators said the tanker truck was traveling directly behind the Dodge minivan when it failed to stop in time, striking it from behind and igniting a massive fire.
Witnesses described seeing flames engulfing the van within seconds, leaving bystanders helpless to intervene.
Family members later identified the deceased as Kenia Ramirez and Darwin Ventura, along with their young daughter Kayle.
The couple was expecting another child at the time of the crash.
Also killed were Sonia Maribel Ramirez, Kenia’s mother, and her children Justin, Andy, Natali, and Evan.
While the Georgia State Patrol has not yet officially confirmed the identities, Franka Young, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, said troopers are “working diligently to identify and confirm all occupants through available records and forensic analysis.”
The wreck prompted the closure of northbound lanes of I-85 for several hours as investigators, firefighters, and recovery crews worked through the debris and charred remains of the vehicles.
“This is one of the most tragic traffic incidents we’ve seen in recent memory,” one state trooper said at the scene. “An entire family lost their lives in an instant.”
The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) continues to investigate the crash. Officials have not yet released details regarding the tanker truck’s contents or whether speed or impairment played a role in the collision.
Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage to contact the Georgia State Patrol Post in Athens as the investigation remains active.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.