Shannon Wigfield: Victim Identified in I-70 Bus Crash in Ohio

Accident – Death – Obituary News : NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO: Shannon Wigfield, a beloved teacher at Buckeye Career Center, tragically lost her life in a devastating bus crash on Interstate 70 in Licking County, Ohio, on Tuesday, November 14. The crash, which involved five vehicles, resulted in the deaths of six people and injured at least 18 others. Shannon Wigfield had been on the bus as a parent, accompanying her sophomore student to the Ohio School Board Association Capital Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Shannon Wigfield, 45, had been an English teacher at Buckeye Career Center for an impressive 24 years. She was known for her dedication to her students and her passion for teaching. Born on May 10, 1977, in Dennison, she was the daughter of Ronald L and Susan Abbuhl of New Philadelphia, as stated in her obituary. After graduating from Claymont High School in 1995, she went on to earn her degree from Ohio University in 2000. Shannon was not only an exceptional educator but also enjoyed shopping, particularly at Target and Dollar General, and had a talent for crafting. However, it was her genuine desire to help others that truly defined her character.

On October 18, 2003, Shannon married her husband, Richard, and together they had three children: Riley, Evan, and Leah. Richard serves as a firefighter and medic in Jackson Township. The news of Shannon’s tragic passing deeply affected her community, especially her husband and children. Damon Gallucci, President of Jackson Firefighters Local 2280, expressed the community’s support for the Wigfield family, saying, “When it’s that close, it just hits differently, and you hear about this stuff a lot. Everybody is trying to get through it and help the Wigfield family the best we can at this point.”

In memory of Shannon Wigfield, the firefighters’ union established a donation fund to support Richard and their children, including the surviving sophomore student who experienced the loss of his mother in the crash. The superintendent of Buckeye Career Center, Bob Alsept, who was attending the Ohio School Board Association Capital Conference when the tragic accident occurred, remembered Shannon as a “wonderful teacher.” Alsept recalled Shannon’s constant positivity and enthusiasm, stating, “I never remember seeing her and thinking she was having anything but a great day because she had a smile on her face.” He also emphasized how Shannon’s energy and dedication positively influenced her students, saying, “She really made them feel special about themselves, wouldn’t let them fail, could be hard on them as she needed to be but also let them know that she cared deeply about their success.”

The students and staff at Buckeye Career Center showed their support and solidarity by wearing red on Thursday, November 16, to honor Tusky Valley High School while mourning the loss of their beloved teacher. Alsept urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and express their affection, saying, “As we talk to our staff, go home, hug the people close to you because you never know. I would say that for parents and students, don’t leave it unsaid. Don’t leave without a hug because it’s just too fragile.” The firefighters’ union is also encouraging support for the families of the other victims involved in the crash through additional fundraisers.

Funeral services for Shannon Wigfield will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 11:00 am at Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia. The ceremony will be officiated by Pastor Carol McCartney, and Shannon will be laid to rest in Ft Laurens Cemetery in Bolivar. The Lebold-Smith Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested making donations to the donor’s favorite charity.

Shannon Wigfield is survived by her parents, Ronald L and Susan, her husband Richard, their three children, and her in-laws Richard and Reccine. She also leaves behind her grandmother Karleen Wilson, brother Craig (Heidi) Abbuhl, a sister-in-law, sister Lisa (Jim) Heuser, brother-in-law Christopher (Richelle) Woytko, and nieces and nephews Hunter Abbuhl, C.J. Abbuhl, Ashleigh Heuser, Lexi Heuser, Ryan Woytko, Kyle Woytko, and Avery Woytko, along with countless other extended family members and friends..