Truck driver was ‘following too closely’ in bus crash that killed 6, Ohio DPS says
The Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) has released new information about a semi truck vs. charter bus crash that killed 6 people on I-70 earlier this month.
The crash occured shortly before 9 a.m. on November 14 on I-70 near state Route 310 in Etna Township, Ohio.
UPDATE: Licking County officials said six people are now dead following a deadly bus/semi-truck crash on I-70. https://t.co/jY29WoUH9A pic.twitter.com/quTP5UoBwt
— NBC4 Columbus (@nbc4i) November 14, 2023
A charter bus transporting students and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School was westbound on I-70 when it was involved in a chain reaction crash with four other vehicles.
Six people died in the crash, including three students.
A crash report released this week by the Ohio DPS says that one of the truck drivers involved in the crash was “following too closely” and failed to slow prior to striking another vehicle and then hitting the charter bus.
The report says that a 60 year old Zanesville resident was driving a tractor trailer west on I-70 as traffic slowed. The tractor trailer struck a Nissan Murano, forcing the car into the back of the charter bus. The crash then forced the Murano into the road and the tractor trailer struck the back of the charter bus. This crash forced the charter bus to strike a Toyota Highlander. The Highlander then hit a Volvo truck. The Highlander was forced into the left lane and the first tractor trailer struck the Volvo.
The driver of the first tractor trailer has not been charged and showed no signs of impairment by drugs or alcohol, according to NBC4i.
The six crash victims have been identified as:
- John W. Mosley, 18, of Mineral City
- Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, of Bolivar
- Katelyn N. Owens, 15, of Mineral City
- Dave Kennat, 56, of Navarre
- Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar
- Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar
The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the crash.