CARNESVILLE – A five-vehicle wreck on Interstate 85 south of Carnesville resulted in numerous fatalities and several injuries Saturday afternoon.
“We have had a total of, right now, seven fatalities,” said Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas.
The call was dispatched about 1:30 p.m. on Interstate 85 at mile marker 159, according to Thomas.
The Georgia State Patrol reports that a Ford Excursion was traveling north on Interstate 85 near mile marker 160 when, for unknown reasons, the Excursion crossed through the median and entered southbound lanes of travel.
“The Ford Excursion struck a Chevrolet van which was traveling south in the left lane,” according to GSP. “This caused the Chevrolet van to strike a Ford E350 van that was traveling in the right lane.”
Two more vehicles were involved but received only minor damage from debris from the first two impacts, according to GSP.
“At this time, there are three confirmed fatalities from the Ford Excursion,” according to GSP. “Three more of its passengers were transported by EMS. One of those is in critical condition. The other two occupants are stable at this time.
“There were a total four occupants in the Chevrolet van,” according to GSP. “All four were confirmed fatalities on the scene.”
The Ford E350’s occupants suffered no injuries, according to GSP.
Family notifications have not made, so names and ages of victims are unavailable.
“The deputies, fire departments, been EMS, Georgia State Patrol and other state law enforcement officer were there,” Thomas said. “Our 9-1-1 did a fantastic job getting everything out there.”
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office also was on scene, Thomas said, as were an ambulance from Banks County Fire/EMS and units from Banks County Sheriff’s Office.
Two of the victims were airlifted from the scene by South Carolina-based medical helicopters.
“We also called some ministers,” Thomas said. “Some of them that were injured and some of the fatalities were Hispanics, and we called the minister from Lavonia. He’s a Hispanic minister up there at the Baptist church. He met some of the families at the hospital and talked to them and helped them.”
Thomas said the Ed Murdock dealership in Lavonia provided a large passenger van for one of the families’ possessions to be loaded up from the scene.
“They helped us, too, and we just can’t say enough for them,” Thomas said.
The southbound lanes of I-85 reopened about 7:30 p.m. after six hours of closure.
Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell and the Troop B Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team are continuing their investigation.
“This is one of the worst,” Thomas said of the number of fatalities in a single wreck he has worked during his career in emergency services and as sheriff.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the victims, the families,” Thomas said. “There’s never a good wreck. You can call them an accident, but they’re motor vehicle crashes.”
