Ohio Bus Crash Victims Identified: Three Tuscarawas Valley High School Students Among the Dead

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Smoke rises from wreckage of Ohio bus crash that killed four, injured 15

Three students of the Tuscarawas Valley High School tragically lost their lives in a bus crash on Tuesday morning, according to the school district superintendent, Dr. Derek Varansky. The victims have been identified as Katelyn Owens, 15, Jeffery Worrell, 18, and John Mosely, 18. Alongside the students, a high school teacher, Dave Kennat, 56, and two parent chaperones, Kristy Gaynor, 39, and Shannon Wigfield, 45, also lost their lives in the incident.

Following the crash, 20 students were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Fortunately, 18 of them have been released, although two remain in the hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

The accident occurred at approximately 8:15 am, shutting down parts of I-70 at State Route 310 and westbound at State Route 158. The bus was carrying 57 band students from Tuscarawas Valley Schools, located about 120 miles northeast of Columbus and approximately 43 miles south of Akron.

Governor Mike DeWine has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at Tuscarawas County government buildings and the Ohio Statehouse to honor the victims of the crash. In a statement, he expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “It is our worst nightmare to have a bus full of children involved in such a terrible crash, and it is certainly the worst nightmare that families and schools can endure.”

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating the crash, which involved a charter bus, two commercial vehicles, and two passenger vehicles. The vehicles were all traveling westbound on I-70 when the chain-reaction crash occurred. At least three of the vehicles caught fire as a result of the collision.

The charter bus was carrying a driver and 54 students and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools. Three of the passengers on the bus were pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased have been identified as John W. Mosely, 18, Mineral City, Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, Bolivar, and Katelyn N. Owens, 15, Mineral City. The remaining students were taken to a reunification site.

One of the passenger vehicles involved in the crash was occupied by three individuals, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased have been identified as Dave Kennat, 56, Navarre, Kristy Gaynor, 39, Zoar, and Shannon Wigfield, 45, Bolivar.

The crash remains under investigation, and anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The agency has expressed its gratitude to the various organizations and agencies that assisted in the response to the crash, including the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, West Licking Fire Department and EMS, Licking County Coroner’s Office, Jae’s Towing, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

In the wake of this devastating tragedy, hundreds of people gathered at the Tuscarawas Valley High School football stadium for a prayer vigil to honor the victims and their families. Band students from the Tuscarawas Valley School district were onboard the bus during the accident. Six candles were placed on a trestle table in front of the bleachers to symbolize the six lives lost in the crash. The community is mourning the loss of these bright young students and dedicated educators, and there are no words to express the profound grief felt by all..