Feds blame truck driver’s inattention for I-70 bus crash that killed six
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report on the cause of a multiple-fatality crash that occurred in Ohio in 2023.
In a report released on September 24, 2025, the NTSB stated that “a truck driver’s inattention led to a fatal crash involving two passenger vehicles, a chartered motorcoach carrying school children and another truck.”
The crash occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on November 14, 2023, in Etna Township, Ohio.
Federal authorities said that a semi truck operated by Mid-State Systems, Inc. was westbound on I-70 when the driver failed to slow for a line of traffic caused by a previous minor crash. The semi truck collided with the slowed vehicles, sparking a chain-reaction crash and fire that spread to other vehicles.
Three students on the bus died as a result of the crash. Three other people in a passenger vehicle were also killed.
“The NTSB determined that in addition to the driver’s inattention and his failure to respond to the traffic queue, several other issues contributed to the crash. These issues included ineffective traffic management and lack of information on traffic conditions to travelers. Additionally, the truck lacked an in-vehicle driver monitoring system that could have alerted the truck driver to return his attention to the road. The speed difference between the truck and the slowed traffic, along with the post-crash fire, also increased the severity of the injuries,” the agency said.
Following the investigation, the NTSB issued several safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes from occurring, including:
- Stronger federal guidance to states on managing traffic queues after incidents and on communications between responding agencies
- Performance standards for collision avoidance technology in commercial vehicles
- Requirements for driver monitoring systems in commercial vehicles
- More rigorous interior fire safety standards for motorcoaches
“We’ve seen this crash scenario far too often—and it’s preventable,” said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. “Proven technologies can warn drivers of slowed traffic and prevent collisions before they happen. What’s needed are stronger vehicle safety standards, better traffic incident management and swift action on our recommendations. Lives depend on it.”