Crime
Victims killed in Fiery Crash on I-85 in Jackson County Identified
JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities have confirmed that eight members of the same Hispanic family were killed in a devastating multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 85 northbound in Jackson County, Georgia, on Monday afternoon.
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 violent impact caused the minivan to erupt into flames, trapping everyone inside.
Emergency responders initially reported seven fatalities at the scene, but after further examination of the wreckage, an eighth victim was located and pronounced dead. Officials said the victims ranged in age from 3 years old to 42 years old.
The fatal crash occurred shortly after 4:00 p.m. near mile marker 147, just south of Commerce.
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said the impact caused a chain reaction involving six vehicles, though the most severe damage was sustained by the family’s van.
Family members confirmed that the victims were:
- Maribel Ramirez, 42
- Justin Ramirez, 16
- Andy Ramirez, 14
- Natali Ramirez, 11
- Evan Ramirez, 3 years and 7 months
- Kenia Ramirez, 22
- Darwin Ventura, 23, who was three months pregnant with the couple’s second child
- Kayle Ventura, 4
Loved ones said Kenia Ramirez and her partner Darwin Ventura were traveling with their daughter Kayle, and the family was expecting another baby.
Also among the victims were Kenia’s mother, Sonia Maribel Ramirez, and her children Justin, Andy, Natali, and Evan.
The driver of the tanker truck, identified as Kane Hammock, has been arrested and charged with 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 behind the minivan when it failed to stop in time, striking it from the rear and sparking the deadly blaze. Witnesses described the horrifying scene, saying the van was engulfed in flames within seconds, leaving onlookers unable to help the trapped family.
“This is one of the most tragic traffic incidents we’ve seen in recent memory,” one state trooper said. “An entire family lost their lives in an instant.”
The crash forced authorities to close northbound lanes of I-85 for several hours as firefighters, investigators, and reconstruction teams worked to clear debris and examine the charred remains of the vehicles.
While the Georgia State Patrol has not officially released the victims’ names pending formal identification, Franka Young, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said troopers are “working diligently to confirm all occupants through available records and forensic analysis.”
The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) continues to investigate the incident. Officials have not yet disclosed whether speed, distraction, or impairment contributed to the crash, nor the nature of the tanker truck’s load.
Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have dashcam footage from the area to contact the Georgia State Patrol Post in Athens as the investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
Security guard Yahaira Melendez charged with murder after shooting inside IHOP restaurant in Center City Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A security guard has been arrested and charged with murder following a fatal shooting at a Center City IHOP over the weekend that left a 43-year-old man dead.
The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday at the IHOP located in the 1300 block of Walnut Street, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
When officers arrived, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim, who police say was unhoused, was transported to Jefferson Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators report that the victim had been causing a disturbance inside the restaurant prior to the shooting. As security personnel escorted him outside, he allegedly turned and spat on one of the guards.
That guard, identified as 38-year-old Yahaira Melendez, allegedly responded by drawing her firearm and shooting the victim once in the head.
Police say preliminary findings indicate the victim was not armed at the time of the incident.
Melendez, a mother of three, was taken into custody and has been charged with murder and related offenses.
In a statement Melendez’s family expressed shock and disbelief over the situation, writing in part:
“We are shocked and devastated by the tragic events that occurred at the IHOP while she was working security. We know she would never harm anyone unless she felt she had no other choice to protect herself or others.”
The shooting has left nearby workers and residents shaken.
“Escalation — where was the escalation?” asked Karr Anderson, who works next door to the restaurant. “Security guards need to know how to withhold, how to show restraint.”
Philadelphia Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether proper security protocols were followed and what led to the use of deadly force.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased pending family notification.