Seven dead in I-85 accident near Carnesville, Georgia

Tragedy in Franklin County over the July 4th weekend when seven people were killed and others injured in a multi-vehicle crash on I-85 near Carnesville. According to Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas, it happened Saturday afternoon about 1:40p near exit 160. Investigators with the Hartwell Post of the Georgia State Patrol say a Ford SUV traveling north crossed the center median and struck a Chevy van traveling south. The impact caused the Chevy van to hit another vehicle in the right southbound lane. Troopers say three people in the Ford and all four people in the Chevy van were killed. First arriving fire and emergency units on scene noted multiple vehicles with several entrapments and multiple fatalities. Franklin County Coroner Scott O’Barr said in all ten people were involved in the crash. “There were four males in the Chevy van and two adults and four children in Ford SUV,” he said Sunday afternoon. “Two of the children were airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital. One of those children died a short time later. The other two children were first taken by ground to Athens Regional Medical center, but have since been transferred to Greenville Memorial.” All six adults died at the scene. O’Barr identified the victims in the Ford SUV as:
Chris Years- Age 33 of Paulding County
Ashley Years- Age 34 of Paulding County
Their daughter, 3-yr old Luna Years died at Greenville Memorial Hospital. “They were traveling on a camping trip for vacation. The father was a reserve member for the Navy. To my understanding, was retired from the military and joined the Naval Reserves. Again, a hard-working family,” said O’ Barr. “To have their last moments of their life taken like that is certainly a tragedy.”
O’Barr identified the victims in the Chevy van as:
Alejandro Agis Perez- Age 53 of Hall County
Noe Gutierrez Cerna- Age 39 of Hall County
Oswaldo F. Hi Navarrete- Age 25 of Hall County
Eugenio Santoyo Serna- Age 36 of Hall County
The men were believed part of a construction crew and had family traveling behind them when the crash occured. “Franklin County Coroner’s Office with assistance from Hart County & Madison County Coroner’s Office worked throughout the night and following day to identify and contact the decedents families,” O’Barr said in a press release issued Sunday afternoon. O’Barr said agencies responding included: Franklin Co Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Co EMS, Carnesville Fire Dept, Bold Springs Fire & Rescue Dept, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia State Patrol SCRT, Georgia Department of So far, no word on what caused the Ford SUV to cross the center line. Investigators with the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team continue to investigate the cause of the crash. The deaths bring the total number of fatalities on Georgia roads over the July 4th holiday to 24 as of 6p Sunday, according to GSP. “This is the worst crash in Franklin County recent memory,” Thomas said., “Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected by this tragic event and in their upcoming days,” Sheriff Thomas said lanes were closed in both directions for hours and traffic backed up for miles as crews worked to clear the wreckage.