News out of Georgia

Police in Georgia have charged a semi-truck driver in connection with a deadly wreck that killed eight members of the same family, including five children, according to authorities and local media reports.

Kane Aaron Hammock, 33, of Gainesville, Georgia, faces multiple charges, including eight counts of vehicular homicide, one count of feticide and driving with a suspended license, according to the state's Department of Public Safety.

The deadly wreck occurred Monday, Oct. 13, on I-85 in Commerce, a city about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. Georgia State Patrol said in a statement that Hammock, who was driving a semi-trailer, followed "too closely" behind a Dodge Caravan and struck the van from behind, causing a "chain reaction involving the van and four additional vehicles."

Eight people inside the van – three adults and five children – were found dead, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. One of the adults was possibly pregnant, but an autopsy has not yet confirmed that, according to authorities.

Officials have not released the names of the victims, but family members have identified them to Univision and WSBTV.

One of the vehicles involved in the crash was a van transporting dozens of cats to an animal shelter, according to Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters. The nonprofit said on Facebook that the van was "crushed" during the crash and many of the cats "scattered in fear."

Two of the 37 cats in the van at the time of the crash were still missing as of Tuesday, Oct. 14, the nonprofit said. The driver of the van has been released from the hospital after receiving several stitches.

The crash remains under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol, authorities said. The National Transportation Safety Board also opened a safety investigation into the wreck.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tailgating truck driver crashed into minivan and killed 8 people, charges say

Reporting by Christopher Cann, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect