At 8:52 am on Tuesday, November 14th, a multi-vehicle crash on I-70 killed 6 and left 18 injured. The crash involved a charter bus, a tractor-trailer, another commercial vehicle, and two passenger vehicles traveling west on I-70 in Licking County, Ohio. 3 of the vehicles caught fire as a result of the accident.

The charter bus involved in the accident was carrying students, staff, and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools in Zoarville, Tuscarawas County, as they were traveling to Columbus for the Ohio School Boards Association Conference.

3 students were killed: John W. Mosely, 18, Katelyn N. Owens, 15, and Jeffery D. Worrell, 18. 1 teacher and 2 of the chaperones were also killed in the accident: Dave Kennat, 56, Kristy Gaynor, 39, and Shannon Wigfield, 45. The rest of the conference was canceled in the wake of this tragedy.

At around 2 pm, students who had not gone to the hospital were met by their parents at their reunification center: the Etna United Methodist Church.

The schools were back in session on Wednesday following a normal schedule, as superintendent Derek Varansky stated, “school WILL be in session (Wednesday) but it will not be a normal day.” Vigils were held on the school’s football field Tuesday night to remember the students, staff, and chaperones lost in this tragic accident.

The driver of the semi-truck, who seemed to have struck the charter bus initially, was taken to the hospital following the accident. The driver of the other commercial vehicle involved was treated on the scene and released. All other non-fatally injured victims were taken to at least 7 different local hospitals, authorities reported.

I-70 reopened early Wednesday, November 15th, as busy traffic returned to normal. The cause of this accident is still under investigation, as neither the charter bus company nor the truck company have any prior serious offenses.