Six people died in the November 2023 crash, including three Tusky Valley students.
In Licking County, Ohio, Jacob McDonald, the semitruck driver involved in the fatal 2023 crash that claimed the lives of six individuals, including three Tuscarawas Valley students, has been convicted of six amended charges of vehicular homicide. The ruling was made by Judge David Branstool on Friday.
Despite the guilty verdict on six counts, McDonald was acquitted of 20 other charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, due to a lack of sufficient evidence demonstrating recklessness. Nevertheless, the judge held McDonald accountable for the tragic incident.
McDonald was charged with a total of 26 counts.
McDonald was charged after the crash on Interstate 70 near state Route 310 in November 2023.
You can watch coverage of the verdict in the player below.
What happened on Nov. 14, 2023?
The catastrophic event occurred on November 14, 2023, as 54 students and three chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District were en route to Columbus for a band conference where they were scheduled to showcase their musical talents.
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.
Five vehicles were involved in the fiery crash, including the Pioneer Trails charter bus that was transporting the students and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley.
According to an incident report by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, McDonald was driving a semitruck at 70 mph and did not slow down. He drove over a vehicle and then slammed into the bus.
Three students on the bus were killed, including 18-year-old John Mosely, 15-year-old Katelyn Owens, and 18-year-old Jeffery Worrell. A teacher and two other chaperones also died, including 56-year-old Dave Kennat, 39-year-old Kristy Gaynor and 45-year-old Shannon Wigfield.
More than a dozen people were also injured in the crash. The injured were treated at seven hospitals.
The crash report from OSHP says McDonald did not have any alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of the crash.
McDonald was indicted and booked into the Licking County jail in July 2024, where he has been since the crash, on a $1 million bond.
Recapping the trial
The trial lasted four days. McDonald chose to have a bench trial, meaning the judge would rule on a decision instead of a jury. The trial lasted three days.
Opening statements began on May 5, with the courtroom being packed with those involved in the crash and the victims’ families.
Witnesses testified and recounted the day of the fatal crash. Prosecuting Attorney Clifford Murphy also showed dash camera footage from the semitruck and body camera footage from a responding trooper.
Defense Attorney Chris Brigdon said McDonald was operating the semitruck in a reasonable manner and showed video of the semi driving with other cars passing him. He also said the state’s claim of the on-off is “completely made up.”
On the second day, the charter bus driver — Donald Wagler — delivered his testimony. He told the judge his leg was injured so badly in the crash that he had to have it amputated, saying he did everything he could to prevent injuries.
“If I wouldn’t have done what I did, it would have been a whole lot more injuries. By turning hard right, I saved a lot more lives that would have been impacted. The bus would have been like an accordion. Would have totally hurt a lot more people,” Wagler testified.
An Ohio State Highway Patrol sergeant who investigated the crash took the stand afterward.
The biggest question of the day was whether or not McDonald’s was actively using his phone in the moments leading up to the crash.
The defense attorney argued that his phone was burned in the cab after the crash, so there is no way to tell what data was being used at the time. However, a forensic expert said that in their professional opinion, the phone was active.
The court took a daylong break on May 7, and the session resumed on May 8.
On that day, the state and defense rested their cases after expert testimony.
The defense presented two expert witnesses who testified about the speeds of all vehicles involved and the data from McDonald’s cell phone. While it was confirmed that data was being transmitted from McDonald’s phone just before the crash, the defense argued that this does not necessarily mean the phone was in McDonald’s hand at the time of the collision.
“It’s possible the bus driver in that moment was distracted himself and saw the Highlander breaking and needed to turn right,” said Defense Attorney Chris Brigdon. “Then, the (Nissan) Murano saw that and braked, then along comes Jacob McDonald.”
In contrast, prosecutors argued that McDonald failed to slow down or attempt to brake as he approached slowed traffic ahead. They contend this shows a lack of care and reckless driving on McDonald’s part.
“The speed that he hit the Nissan was 72 mph at minimum. The Nissan was not tailgating the bus. The Nissan was not standstill,” said Chief Felony Division Prosecuting Attorney Clifford Murphy.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
