Six Dead and Eighteen Injured in Deadly Ohio Highway Crash: Victims Identified as John W. Mosely, Jeffery D. Worrell, Katelyn N. Owens, Dave Kennat, Kristy Gaynor, and Shannon Wigfield

Accident – Death – Obituary News : ETNA, Ohio (AP) — An investigation is underway into a tragic highway crash in Ohio that claimed the lives of six people and left 18 others injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a team to the scene to gather evidence and determine the cause of the accident.

The crash occurred on Tuesday on westbound Interstate 70 in Licking County, located approximately 26 miles east of Columbus. The chain-reaction collision involved a charter bus carrying high school students, an SUV, and a semitruck. The NTSB team will be examining cameras and other sources of evidence from the five vehicles involved in the accident.

Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of the NTSB, stated that there is conflicting information regarding the sequence of events leading up to the crash. The Pioneer Trails charter bus was transporting students and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District in eastern Ohio. Tragically, three passengers on the bus, identified as John W. Mosely, Jeffery D. Worrell, and Katelyn N. Owens, lost their lives in the collision.

The students and chaperones on the bus were en route to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus. However, the conference was canceled upon learning of the crash. The event was set to feature professional development sessions for school district management teams and an annual Student Achievement Fair showcasing innovative school programs.

Superintendent Derek Varansky of Tuscarawas Valley expressed his grief and described the incident as one of the darkest days in the district’s history. He emphasized the community’s commitment to honoring the deceased and supporting the survivors and their families. Despite the tragedy, classes were held the following day with additional counselors and support staff from various organizations present to assist students.

The collision also claimed the lives of three individuals in another passenger vehicle. They were identified as Dave Kennat, Kristy Gaynor, and Shannon Wigfield. The driver of the second passenger vehicle was taken to a hospital, while the drivers of the commercial vehicles involved sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash resulted in the closure of both sides of Interstate 70 for several hours, leading to significant traffic delays. The eastbound lanes were reopened late Tuesday afternoon, followed by the reopening of the westbound lanes early Wednesday.

One student, Tori Wilson, recounted her harrowing experience on the bus. She described the chaos and her attempts to escape while witnessing others in pain and distress. Wilson eventually managed to free herself through a window. Another student, the junior high band director, repeatedly risked his own safety to rescue trapped students from the burning bus.

Sadly, this is the second fatal crash involving high school students on a charter bus in recent months. In September, a similar incident occurred in New York, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and multiple injuries.

In response to the incident, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine established a School Bus Safety Working Group in August. The group aims to improve safety measures and address concerns related to school bus transportation. Their upcoming meeting will explore training and on-bus instruction, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. While it remains uncertain how charter buses carrying students will be addressed in the final report, Tuesday’s crash will undoubtedly be acknowledged.

The investigation into the Ohio highway crash will continue, as the NTSB team meticulously examines the evidence to determine the factors contributing to this tragic incident. As the community mourns the loss of lives, they will come together to support the survivors and work towards preventing such accidents in the future..