Good Samaritans Praised in Ohio Bus Crash that Killed Students, Parents, and Teacher

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : Federal Investigator Probes Ohio Bus Crash That Claims Six Lives, Including Students and Parents

In the aftermath of a tragic bus crash in Ohio that claimed the lives of three students, two parents, and a teacher, a federal investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun looking into the incident. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy commended the “good Samaritans” who rushed to the scene of the highway crash, including Gahanna officers who were en route to a training event when they learned of the accident and immediately went to assist.

Homendy revealed that the safety board team arrived at the crash site on Wednesday to assess the scene and gather evidence from the five vehicles involved. Their investigation is expected to last between five to seven days, with a preliminary report likely to be issued within the next few weeks.

The crash occurred on westbound Interstate 70 in Licking County, approximately 26 miles east of Columbus. The chain-reaction accident involved a charter bus carrying high school students and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District, who were on their way to perform at an educational conference. An SUV and a semitruck were also part of the collision.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that three passengers on the bus, John W. Mosely, 18, Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, and Katelyn N. Owens, 15, were pronounced dead at the scene. Additionally, a teacher and two parent chaperones from another vehicle involved in the crash, Dave Kennat, 56, Kristy Gaynor, 39, and Shannon Wigfield, 45, were also pronounced dead. Wigfield was a beloved English language arts instructor at Buckeye Career Center, who had been teaching there for 24 years.

The tragic incident prompted the cancellation of the three-day educational conference, which was described as the second-largest education convention in the nation. The event, which offered professional development sessions for school district management teams and showcased innovative school programs, decided to end early out of respect for the victims and their families.

Tuscarawas Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky addressed the community at a prayer vigil, expressing his grief and calling it one of the darkest days in the district’s history. He emphasized the need to honor the deceased and support the survivors who will carry the trauma of the crash with them. Classes were held the following day, albeit with additional counseling and support staff present to assist students and staff in processing the tragedy.

The crash caused significant traffic delays as both sides of Interstate 70 were closed for several hours. The eastbound lanes reopened late Tuesday afternoon, while the westbound lanes reopened early Wednesday. The Ohio State Highway Patrol and state Transportation Department workers continued their work at the crash site on Wednesday.

Survivor Tori Wilson, a sophomore at Tuscarawas Valley Local School District, recounted her harrowing experience on the bus. Stuck in the wreckage, she overheard someone mentioning a fire and the need to evacuate. Wilson struggled to escape as a fellow student suffered a seizure on top of her. Eventually, she managed to pull herself out of a window and escape to safety. Wilson praised the heroic actions of the junior high band director, who repeatedly entered the burning bus to rescue stranded students.

Unfortunately, this is 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 highway in New York, resulting in two deaths and several injuries.

In response to the tragic incidents, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine assembled a School Bus Safety Working Group in August. The group, which aims to improve school bus safety measures, will meet next week to discuss training and on-bus instruction. The final report and recommendations from the panel are expected by the end of the year. It remains to be seen how the issue of charter bus safety will be addressed in their findings, although the recent crash will undoubtedly be acknowledged during the meeting..