Tragic Ohio Highway Crash Claims Lives of John W. Mosely, Jeffery D. Worrell, and Katelyn N. Owens

Accident – Death – Obituary News : ETNA, Ohio — (AP) — An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is underway following a tragic highway crash in Ohio that claimed the lives of six individuals and left 18 others injured. The incident involved a charter bus filled with high school students and occurred on westbound Interstate 70 in Licking County, approximately 26 miles east of Columbus.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated that the team would be conducting a thorough examination of the scene, looking for any potential evidence such as cameras that could shed light on the sequence of events leading to the chain-reaction crash. The investigation is expected to last for about five to seven days, with a preliminary report being issued within the next few weeks.

According to Homendy, there is conflicting information regarding the exact cause of the crash, which also involved an SUV and a semitruck. 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, 18, of Mineral City; Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, of Bolivar; and Katelyn N. Owens, 15, of Mineral City, were pronounced dead at the scene, as confirmed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The bus was en route to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus, which has since been canceled in light of the accident. The conference was set to feature professional development sessions for school district management teams and an annual Student Achievement Fair showcasing innovative school programs.

Speaking at a community prayer vigil, Tuscarawas Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky expressed the district’s deep sorrow, calling the incident one of the darkest days in its history. He emphasized the importance of honoring the lives lost and providing support to the surviving students who will carry the trauma of this experience. Despite the tragedy, classes resumed the following day, as district officials aimed to ensure that no students would be left alone at home. Varansky acknowledged that it would not be a typical school day and that additional counselors and support staff from various community organizations would be present to offer assistance.

In addition to the fatalities on the bus, three individuals in one of the passenger vehicles involved in the crash, identified as Dave Kennat, 56, of Navarre; Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar; and Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar, also lost their lives. The driver of the other passenger vehicle sustained injuries and was transported to a hospital. Among the drivers of the commercial vehicles, one was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the other received treatment at the scene, according to the highway patrol.

Following the collision, both sides of Interstate 70 were closed for several hours, leading to significant traffic delays in the area. The eastbound lanes reopened late in the afternoon on Tuesday, while the westbound lanes were reopened early Wednesday morning.

Tori Wilson, a sophomore from Tuscarawas Valley High School who was on the bus, recounted the harrowing experience. She shared that she overheard someone mentioning a fire and the need to escape, but she was trapped in her seat. Wilson described the chaotic scene, with a fellow student having a seizure above her and her friend crushed beneath the seats. Eventually, she managed to free herself through a window and escape. Wilson also praised the heroic efforts of the junior high band director, who repeatedly reentered the burning bus to rescue students.

This devastating incident marks the second fatal crash involving high school students on a charter bus in recent months. In September, a similar accident occurred in New York, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and numerous injuries.

As the investigation progresses, authorities and the community are left to grapple with the profound loss and impact of this tragic event..