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

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Etna, Ohio – A tragic highway crash in Ohio involving a charter bus filled with high school students has left six people dead and 18 injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a team to investigate the incident, and they are set to begin their work on Wednesday. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated that the team will be searching for cameras and other evidence from the five vehicles involved in the crash.

The fatal accident occurred on westbound Interstate 70 in Licking County, approximately 26 miles (42 kilometers) east of Columbus. Homendy mentioned that there is conflicting information about the sequence of events that led to the chain-reaction crash, which also involved an SUV and a semitruck. The charter bus, owned by Pioneer Trails, was carrying 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. The bus was en route to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus, where students and chaperones were scheduled to attend professional development sessions and a Student Achievement Fair.

In response to the devastating incident, the conference was canceled. Tuscarawas Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky expressed his grief during a community prayer vigil, describing Tuesday as one of the darkest days in the district’s history. He emphasized the importance of honoring those who lost their lives and providing support to the surviving students and their families.

Despite the tragedy, classes were held the following day to ensure that no students would be left alone at home. Varansky acknowledged that it would not be a typical school day and announced that counselors and support staff from various community organizations would be present to offer assistance.

The three individuals in one of the passenger vehicles involved, a teacher and two chaperones, also lost their lives in the crash. They were identified as Dave Kennat, 56, of Navarre; Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar; and Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar. Additionally, the driver of the other passenger vehicle sustained injuries and was transported to a hospital. The drivers of the commercial vehicles involved in the collision received medical attention as well.

The accident caused significant traffic delays in the area, resulting in the closure of both sides of Interstate 70 for several hours. The eastbound lanes were reopened late Tuesday afternoon, while the westbound lanes resumed operation early Wednesday.

One student, Tori Wilson, shared her harrowing experience during the crash. She recalled being trapped on the bus, overhearing discussions about a fire, and witnessing her fellow passengers in distress. Eventually, she managed to escape through a window. Wilson praised the junior high band director for his heroic efforts in rescuing students from the burning bus.

Unfortunately, this is the second fatal crash involving high school students on a charter bus in recent months. In September, two people were killed and several others injured when a charter bus carrying high school students veered off a highway in New York.

In response to the incident, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine established a School Bus Safety Working Group in August. The group will convene next Thursday to discuss training, on-bus instruction, and hear from a panel of drivers and practitioners. While it remains uncertain how charter buses carrying students will be addressed in the group’s final report, the tragic crash on Tuesday will undoubtedly be acknowledged during the meeting.

As the NTSB team begins their investigation, the community of Etna, Ohio, mourns the loss of those who perished in the crash and rallies together to support the survivors and their families during this difficult time..