UPDATE | Victims identified in deadly Wrens crash

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Georgia State Patrol is now identifying the victims in the deadly crash between a car and a tractor trailer Friday night in Wrens.

GSP says Pratima Subedi, Reecha Pant, Chiranjeebee Khanal, and Jibanjari Sharma Khanal were all killed in the crash. Troopers confirm all were sitting in the backseat at the time.

The tractor trailer driver survived as well as two others in the front seat of the car. We are working to find out if any charges will be filed.

Check back for updates.

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Georgia State Patrol says the Nissan Altima involved in a deadly crash Friday night drove into the path of the tractor trailer.

Troopers say the four victims of the crash were all sitting in the back at the time, the two in the front survived.

Investigators are not releasing the names at this time because the victims are not from the United States so they are not sure all of the family has been notified.

The crash is still under investigation by Georgia State Patrol.

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 |

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Headlights, shattered glass and a full car bumper line the edge of Highway 88 in Wrens. They're all that's left after a car crash leaves four people dead.

Jefferson county Coroner Edward James maps out the trail left after a Nissan Altima carrying six people collided with an 18 wheeler.

"[The truck driver] saw the car coming but he tried to miss them," James says. "He did the best he could but they still hit. Of course, they still skidded, I guess about 30, 40 yards until the truck came to rest and of course the truck flipped over."

Skid marks and debris show the damage done and pain that's yet to come.

"It was pretty bad, it was mighty tragic and sad," James says. "Because the four that had passed away in the back seat, it was a family. It was real sad and very tragic."

Inside the car were family members, including a mother and father, their two sons, a daughter-in-law and one of their son's girlfriend.

One son was driver while the other was the passenger.

While they both made it out, everyone else in the back row died on impact.

James says it's the third wreck at the intersection of Highways 88 and 296 this year. After 12 years on the job, he says this is one of the deadliest.

"It's not the first time that, as far as a wreck [is concerned]," James says. "But there've been several wrecks. But this is the most that we've had. Four fatalities in just one night."

He says he's talked with members from GDOT for years about adding safety measures to the intersection. After countless pleas, James hopes change can finally come to this road.

"We need to put a caution light here or something here so people out of town, they know they got to stop," James says. "And I'm not going to say that's going to help, but I reckon' that'll help save some lives too."

Until then, all he can ask is what if and hope something good can come from this tragedy.

James says the family is from the Athens area, but doesn't know if they were passing through or visiting family.

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 |

JEFFERSON COUNTY (WRDW/WAGT) - The Jefferson County Coroner has released more information after four people died in a car accident involving an 18-wheeler.

Coroner Edward James said five of the passengers in the car were family members and directly related. The sixth victim was a girlfriend. He said both the driver and the passenger were brothers and the passenger just got out of surgery and is expected to be okay.

The victims in the back row were the brothers' mother, father, sister-in-law, and the driver's girlfriend, according to the coroner. All four were killed in the crash.

Investigators are still reaching out to the families, including the girlfriend's brother living in Texas. The coroner said names, ages, or races can't be released at this time.

Both the driver of the car and the driver of the 18 wheeler took drug tests at the scene, according to the coroner. Those results along with the rest of the investigation will be released once they're done. The coroner says it could take a few months at the earliest to hear back.

At this time, Georgia State Patrol's crime scene reconstruction team will be going to the scene some time Wednesday, Nov. 9 to investigate the scene and temporarily shut down both lanes along Highway 88 West and Highway 296 North, according to the coroner. This should only take about an hour to give the team time to figure out who was truly at fault.

Investigators are still not sure if the victims were passing through the county or just visiting friends. The driver of the car and the tractor trailer voluntarily took drug tests after the crash, but those test results could take months to complete.

The names of the victims have yet to be released as investigators continue to alert family members of the crash. Georgia State Patrol says an investigation is underway but could also take months to finish.

News 12 NBC 26 will continue to keep you updated on this developing story.

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016

JEFFERSON COUNTY (WRDW/WAGT) -- Four people have died after a car collided with an 18-wheeler.

Jefferson County's Coroner, Edward James, confirms it happened around 9pm at the intersection of Hwy 88 and Hwy 296 near Wrens, GA.

A Nissan Ultima was traveling Northbound on Hwy 296 and attempted to cross Hwy 88 when it collided with an 18-wheeler traveling West.

The Nissan was carrying three males and three females. Four of the passengers in the back of the car were killed upon impact. Both drivers are expected to be okay.

The bodies have been taken to an Atlanta Crime Lab for autopsies. It's unclear if alcohol or speed were factors.