Bus Crash on Interstate 70 Claims Lives of Tusky Valley Students and Chaperones

Accident – Death – Obituary News : ETNA, Ohio (WOIO) – A tragic accident on Tuesday morning claimed the lives of three students and three chaperones from Tusky Valley Middle-High School. The devastating crash occurred on Interstate 70, leaving 18 others injured, as reported by Tusky Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky.

According to Licking County Emergency Management Agency Director Sean Grady, the students were traveling in a charter bus from a school in eastern Ohio. The bus was carrying a total of 55 people, including the students and chaperones. The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) confirmed that three of the six fatalities were passengers on the bus. They were identified as John Mosely, 18, from Mineral City, Jeffery Worrell, 18, from Bolivar, and Katelyn Owens, 15, also from Mineral City.

Tragically, the other three victims were in a car behind the bus. OSHP identified them as Dave Kennat, 56, a Tusky Valley Teacher from Navarre, Kristy Gaynor, 39, from Zoar, and Shannon Wigfield, a 45-year-old Language Arts teacher from Buckeye Career Center in Bolivar.

In a heartfelt statement, Varansky expressed that 18 out of the 20 students involved in the crash had been released to their parents. He added that two students remain hospitalized but thankfully have non-life threatening injuries.

The crash involved a total of five vehicles, including the charter bus, two commercial vehicles, and two passenger vehicles. OSHP reported that the driver of one of the commercial vehicles and the driver of the other passenger vehicle were transported to nearby hospitals.

Grady revealed that the accident occurred when a semi-truck rear-ended the Pioneer Trails bus around 9 a.m. on I-70 West in Licking County, near the Smoke Road underpass. This collision triggered a chain reaction crash, causing at least three of the vehicles involved to catch fire.

As investigations into the incident continue, OSHP urges anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward and contact them at (614) 466-2660.

The Tusky Valley community is grappling with this devastating loss, and condolences have poured in from bands and schools across Northeast Ohio. In a show of support, the school has decided to remain open, providing students and staff access to counseling services and support from community organizations. While the school respects the wishes of parents who prefer to keep their children at home, they encourage students to attend school to receive the necessary support during this difficult time.

Outside the school, community members have gathered to welcome and embrace students and staff as they enter the building, offering solace and comfort to those affected by the tragedy.

This is an ongoing story, and updates will be provided by 19 News. The Associated Press has contributed to this report..