Shortly before 9 a.m. local time, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, six people, three teenage students, two-parent chaperones, and a teacher from the Tuscarawas Valley School District, were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on an Ohio highway I-70. According to OSP, five vehicles — including a charter bus carrying 54 Ohio high school students and chaperones, two commercial vehicles, and two passenger vehicles — were traveling westbound on I-70 when the chain-reaction crash occurred. At least three of the cars subsequently caught fire due to the collision.
Officials released the students on the bus who died on the scene as John W. Mosley, 18, of Mineral City; Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, of Bolivar; and Katelyn N. Owens, 15, of Mineral City. A total of 15 students and the bus driver were transported to area hospitals. The remaining students were taken to a reunification site. All three people in one of the passenger vehicles involved were also pronounced dead at the scene, says the highway patrol. They were identified as Dave Kennat, 56, of Navarre; Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar; and Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar. Officials said one driver involved in the crash was transported to a local hospital with non-threatening injuries.
In a video, an unnamed trooper arrives on the scene moments after a semi-trailer, the Pioneer Trails bus, and three other vehicles collide. The trooper can be heard shouting, “Did we get everyone out?” He then grabs a fire extinguisher from his car and runs toward the bus. He boarded the vehicle and asked people around him to get a student headcount. Moments later, firefighters arrived to help put out the flames; unfortunately, at least 18 people were hurt in the crash.
The bus was carrying the students and chaperones to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus, says Tuscarawas Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky. Spokesperson Jeff Chambers said the conference was canceled after organizers learned of the crash. Pioneer Trails said it “ fully cooperates with the authorities as we work to find the cause of the accident.” “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by this accident,” the company said. “As this is an ongoing investigation, there will be no further comments.”
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators to the crash site. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy and the team were expected to arrive Tuesday evening, said the agency. An investigation later determined that four of the vehicles involved in the crash were slowing for traffic when a semi-truck rear-ended an SUV, then the bus, igniting a fire.
As a band, students at James A Garfield High School felt that we needed to support our fellow musicians and high school students. Tuscarawas Valley is a small school like us, so the connection was felt, as it could have been any of us going to a competition or even Disney when we go in the Spring. Mrs. Kim Bass works for The University of Akron, and one of her students is an alumnus from there. She has been in contact with her about the Tuscarawas band’s needs and felt that this is an excellent way for us to give back and support our fellow band members.
During the December 10th Winter Concerts, we are taking up a financial donation to be given to their band and families. Attendees will also make cards for the band to show our support. The concert times are as follows: High school @ 2 pm, Middle school @ 4 pm, 5th grade @ 5 pm, and 6th grade @ 6 pm. After each performance, the High school jazz band will entertain families attending, offering music, cookies and card decorating.
