Death toll rises to six in fiery bus crash on I-70 in Ohio
The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) has released more information on Tuesday’s fatal fiery bus crash in Licking County.
Troopers say that the the crash occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on November 14 on I-70 near state Route 310 in Etna Township.
A charter bus, two commercial vehicles, and two passenger vehicles were all westbound on I-70 when they were involved in a chain reaction crash, police said. At least three of the five vehicles caught fire.
Multiple people injured in fiery I-70 crash involving bus and semi in Licking County https://t.co/dP4ms1e7eD #NationalNews #News
— KTVE – KARD (@MyArkLaMiss) November 15, 2023
The bus was transporting students, teachers, and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools in Zoarville.
While the early reports indicated that three people were killed and 15 injured, OSHP now says that there were six people killed as a result of the crash.
Three of the deceased were on the charter bus. These people were identified by state police as John W. Mosely, 18, Mineral City, Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, Bolivar, and Katelyn N. Owens, 15, Mineral City.
Fifteen other bus passengers and the bus driver were transported to hospitals with injuries.
One of the passenger vehicles involved in the crash was transporting three people. All three of those people died at the scene. These people have been identified by OSHP as Dave Kennat, 56, Navarre, Kristy Gaynor, 39, Zoar, and Shannon Wigfield, 45, Bolivar.
OSHP also provided an update on the commercial vehicle drivers. Of the two, one was transported to a hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. The other was treated at the scene and released.
The driver of the second passenger vehicle wasn’t hurt.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be on site on Wednesday to conduct an investigation into the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the OSHP at (614) 466-2660.
Both directions of I-70 were reopened by Wednesday morning.