Georgia Highway horror: 7 killed after semi slams into van sparking fiery pileup

A semi-truck slammed into the back of a Dodge van on a Georgia highway, leading the van to burst into flames. Seven people died on the spot.

The accident occurred on Oct. 13 in the afternoon. According to People, the Georgia Department of Public Safety released a statement informing the public that the semi-truck was following the Dodge van “too closely” along Interstate 85, about 60 miles from Atlanta. The accident not only caused the van to go up in flames but also ignited a chain reaction involving four other vehicles in the vicinity of the crash.

The crash is currently still being investigated, so the relevant authorities have chosen not to release any further information on the matter — such as the names of the victims, or possibly any fleeing perpetrators — until they conclude their investigations.

One of the four cars involved in the accident happened to be a van used by Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters. The Independent was, however, able to confirm that in this particular vehicle, the driver was lucky to get out of the ordeal with only a few minor bruises. The group was reportedly transporting cats, and according to their Facebook page, all that happened to them was that a few cages were crushed and some of the cats took off in panic during the road carnage.

Furthermore, after a day of investigations and deep scrutiny of the accident location, eight bodies were reportedly found at the scene. The identities of everyone involved still remain a mystery. In situations such as this, the police often try their best to ensure families receive the news before releasing information to the media. It’s the legal authority’s way of ensuring grieving families can at least have their dignity maintained in grief. And considering Georgia’s agencies’ recent reputation, this is the least they could do.

As for the accident itself, all that the relevant authorities have revealed so far is that the semi-truck was apparently tailgating too close to the Dodge van. There’s no confirmation on whether that affected its maneuvering or braking, but semi-trucks generally prefer to keep distance just in case of inertia from the load they may be carrying. Even if a semi-truck driven by the most experienced trucker isn’t carrying any load and they just so happen to brake, they would still require a longer stopping time than a smaller car simply because of how heavy the vehicles tend to be. That could create problems in situations where enough space isn’t allocated to them.

This is a tragic situation. Those families who lost loved ones during this event will certainly come forward after being informed by the authorities. Sincere condolences to them. This story is still developing, and as more information comes out, we’ll update the story. But it also feels like a reminder about improving cars and how we drive them — no matter what it takes.

Road safety continues to be one of the most dire issues today. As driving becomes more automated — and not just self-driving, but through the functions within cars that assist drivers in spacing themselves in gridlock — things will hopefully get safer for everyone on the roads.