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Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Six Dead, Including Three Teens, in Tragic Ohio Charter School Bus Crash
Nov. 14 (UPI) — In a devastating accident that has left a community in mourning, six lives, including those of three teenagers, were tragically lost in a fiery crash involving a charter school bus, a tractor-trailer, a commercial vehicle, and two passenger vehicles in Ohio on Tuesday.
The charter bus, carrying 54 students, chaperones, and a driver from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools in Zoarville, was en route to a destination approximately 130 miles northeast of Columbus when the incident occurred on a 4-lane, divided stretch of Interstate 70.
The vehicles were all traveling westbound on the interstate shortly before 9 a.m. when a tractor-trailer, which subsequently caught fire, collided with the bus from behind, resulting in a chain-reaction collision that engulfed three vehicles in flames, as reported by the Highway Patrol.
The students who lost their lives have been identified as John W. Mosely, 18, and Katelyn N. Owens, 15, both from Mineral City, and Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, from Bolivar. The other three victims were a teacher and two additional chaperones who were traveling with students in one of the two passenger vehicles involved in the crash. They were identified as Dave Kennat, 56, from Navarre; Kristy Gaynor, 39, from Zoar; and Shannon Wigfield, 45, from Bolivar.
“Let me just say that this is our worst nightmare when we have a bus full of children involved in a crash, the worst nightmare that families can endure,” stated Governor Mike DeWine during a press conference held shortly after the tragic incident.
The students and staff were on their way to the Ohio School Boards Association conference, where some of the students, who were members of the school band, were scheduled to perform.
Katelyn Owens, an 11th-grade clarinet player, and Jeffery Worrell, a senior who played the bass drum, were among the talented young musicians.
In light of the accident, the remainder of the conference, which was in its final day, was canceled.
Superintendent Derek Veransky expressed his condolences and provided an update on the Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools district website, stating, “A charter bus carrying Tusky Valley students and chaperones on the way to the Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus was involved in a very serious accident.”
“We understand from law enforcement that there may be multiple serious injuries, and we are working to learn the details,” Veransky continued. “We will share news with you as we are able, including our plans for upcoming school days and events. Right now, our focus is on getting in touch with our Tusky Valley families who had loved ones on the bus and providing support to our entire school community. Our Trojan family is strong, and it will take that strength and love to get through these coming challenging days.”
The bus driver and 15 additional students sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals, with five of them being treated for minor injuries.
The remaining students were taken to a temporary reunification site in the nearby Etna Township. The driver of the tractor-trailer was also taken to a local hospital and received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Emergency crews swiftly responded to the scene of the accident, which was described by dispatchers as a “mass casualty” incident. Local hospitals were placed on high alert.
In honor of the lives lost, Governor DeWine announced that flags on state buildings and in Tuscarawas County would be flown at half-staff. The National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an investigation into the tragic crash.
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