Three Killed in I-85 Wreck in Jackson Co.

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Three people are confirmed dead after a wreck this morning on Interstate 85 in Jackson County.

It happened on I-85 Southbound at about 7:30 a.m. near Exit 147 in Commerce.

At of 11 a.m., troopers were still working the scene.

However, the Georgia State Patrol Gainesville Post says that three passengers died after the van they were riding in left the road.

In all, 12 people were in the van when it left the roadway, went down an embankment and struck a tree.

Eight others were injured.

Three were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville and five to Athens Regional.

Traffic on I-85 southbound was backed up for miles as crews worked to clear the scene. 

Reports indicate the passengers were members of two rock bands reportedly coming back from a rock concert last night in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 

So far, the names of the three fatalities has not been released.