LICKING COUNTY, Ohio — Six people are now confirmed to be dead after a charter bus carrying students from a high school was rear-ended by a semi-truck on Interstate 70 in Licking County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Eighteen others were reported injured in the crash.
The victims were identified as 18-year-old John Mosley, 18-year-old Jeffery Worrell, 15-year-old Katelyn Owens, 56-year-old Dave Kennat, 39-year-old Kristy Gaynor and 45-year-old Shannon Wigfield.
All three teens killed in the crash were on the bus, while the three adults were inside of a passenger vehicle.
Here’s what we know so far:
- 6 were killed, 18 injured in I-70 crash
- 15 students and their bus driver were injured, two commercial vehicle drivers were injured as well as the driver of a second passenger vehicle
- 5 vehicles involved, including a charter bus and semi
- 57 people were onboard the bus
- Tuscarawas Valley students were on board the bus headed to Columbus for a conference
- Eastbound lanes of the highway are now back open, but westbound lanes remain closed
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been called to conduct a safety investigation
Five vehicles were involved in the fiery crash, including a Pioneer Trails charter bus that was transporting students and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District, Licking County Emergency Management Agency Director Sean Grady said. There were a total of 57 people onboard.
The injured were being treated at seven hospitals.
According to OSHP, of the two commercial vehicles involved, one driver was transported to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries and the other was treated and released at the scene. The driver of the second passenger vehicle was also transported to an area hospital.
The accident occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on I-70 West in Licking County, near the Smoke Road underpass and about 26 miles east of Columbus.
The bus was headed to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus, Superintendent Derek Varansky said. The conference was canceled after organizers learned of the crash.
“Given this devastating news, we have canceled our conference. Right now, our focus is on providing support to Tuscarawas Valley. That includes making grief counselors from our trade show available,” said Jeff Chambers, the association’s director of communication services.
The American Red Cross of Central and Southern Ohio said it fulfilled a request for more blood from one hospital in the area, sending 30 units to a hospital in the Mount Carmel Health System, said Marita Salkowski, regional communications director. A center was set up at a United Methodist Church in Etna for bus passengers not in need of medical attention to go to and contact loved ones, she said.
Numerous emergency responders were at the scene, and Ohio Department of Transportation cameras from the area showed smoke coming from the crash site. Police officers were blocking the entrance ramps to I-70 East and West near the scene of the accident, increasing traffic along the road leading to the interstate. Dozens of emergency response vehicles were still at the scene of the accident several hours after it occurred.
“This is our worst nightmare, when we have a bus full of children involved in a crash,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said during a news conference at the scene. “Prayers go out to the families, everyone who was on the bus.”
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash alongside NTSB. Several agencies from the surrounding areas responded to the scene. The Columbus Division of Fire confirmed to 10TV that there was a hazmat response on I-70, but additional details were not provided.
I-70 eastbound and westbound lanes at state Route 310 in western Licking County, just south of Pataskala, are back open after being closed for several hours.
Statement from Tuscawaras Valley Local Schools:
Dear Tusky Valley School Community,
I have devastating and heartbreaking news to report.
Today, 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. 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 throughout these coming challenging days.
Sincerely,
Dr. Derek Varansky
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