Ohio Charter Bus Crash Leaves Six Dead, Including John W. Mosely, Jeffery D. Worrell, and Katelyn N. Owens

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Tragic Accident Claims Six Lives and Injures 18 in Ohio Highway Collision

In a devastating incident on Tuesday morning, a charter bus carrying high school students was rear-ended by a semitruck on an Ohio highway, resulting in the loss of six lives and leaving 18 individuals injured. The crash involved a total of five vehicles, including the Pioneer Trails charter bus, which was transporting students and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District in eastern Ohio.

According to Licking County Emergency Management Agency Director Sean Grady, the collision occurred on Interstate 70 in Licking County, approximately 26 miles east of Columbus, at around 9 a.m. The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that three passengers on the bus, identified as John W. Mosely (18), Jeffery D. Worrell (18), and Katelyn N. Owens (15), were pronounced dead at the scene. The tragic loss of young lives has sent shockwaves through the community.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed his condolences during a news conference at the scene, stating, “This is our worst nightmare, when we have a bus full of children involved in a crash. Prayers go out to the families, everyone who was on the bus.” The thoughts and prayers of the entire state are with the affected families and the school district during this difficult time.

Fifteen students and the bus driver were transported to nearby hospitals for immediate medical attention, while other students were taken to a designated reunification site. Unfortunately, all three individuals in one of the passenger vehicles involved also lost their lives in the accident. They were identified as Dave Kennat (56), Kristy Gaynor (39), and Shannon Wigfield (45). The driver of the other passenger vehicle was taken to a hospital for treatment. Among the drivers of the commercial vehicles involved, one was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while the other received treatment at the crash site.

The cause of the multi-vehicle collision is currently under investigation. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has deployed a team of National Transportation Safety Board investigators to the scene to gather more information about the tragic incident. The presence of the NTSB will aid in determining the factors that led to this horrific accident.

It has been revealed that the students and chaperones on the bus were en route to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus, as confirmed by Tuscarawas Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky. The conference was promptly canceled upon learning about the crash, according to spokesperson Jeff Chambers.

Pioneer Trails, the charter bus company involved, expressed its condolences to those affected by the accident and assured its full cooperation with the authorities. However, the company refrained from making further comments until the investigation is complete.

In the wake of the tragedy, the American Red Cross swiftly responded by sending 30 units of blood to a hospital within the Mount Carmel Health System to assist the victims. Marita Salkowski, regional communications director for the American Red Cross of Central and Southern Ohio, stated that a center was established at a United Methodist Church in Etna, offering support to bus passengers who did not require medical attention but needed to reach out to their loved ones during this distressing time.

As parents arrived at the Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School parking lot, school officials provided updates and reassurance before allowing them to collect their children. The emotional toll on parents was evident, with Laurie Fragasse expressing her anguish when she picked up her daughter, stating, “I’m sick. I’m sick to my stomach.”

Emergency responders, including numerous police officers and Ohio Department of Transportation personnel, swiftly arrived at the crash site. Images from ODOT cameras depicted smoke emanating from the area, and entrance ramps to I-70 East and West were blocked, resulting in increased traffic on the surrounding roads leading to the interstate.

This tragic incident in Ohio marks the second fatal crash involving high school students on a charter bus in recent months. In September, a charter bus carrying high school students to band camp veered off a New York highway, claiming the lives of two individuals and injuring several others. The frequency of such accidents involving young students emphasizes the need for continuous efforts to enhance safety measures in school transportation.

At this time, the focus remains on providing support to the Tuscarawas Valley families affected by this heartbreaking incident. The community, along with the entire state of Ohio, stands united in grief and offers its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a swift recovery to the injured..