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.