OHIO — The Ohio Department of Public Safety released a report that shows a chain reaction is what led to the fatal Licking County bus crash on Nov. 14, killing six people and injuring many others.
The report shows that a semi-truck was following too closely in traffic, heading westbound on I-70. When it failed to slow down, it struck another vehicle before hitting the charter bus that was carrying students from Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School.
Three other cars — a Nissan Murano, a Toyota Highlander and a Volvo truck — were also heading westbound. The semi-truck hit the Murano, which forced it to hit the rear-end of the charter bus.
The charter bus then hit the Highlander as a result of the chain reaction. The bus then struck the Volvo, the report shows.
The crash happened around 8:52 a.m. on Nov. 14 near State Route 310. The victims included three teenagers who were on the charter bus, two chaperones and a faculty member who were traveling in a passenger vehicle. The bus was heading toward a conference in Columbus when the crash occurred.
Officials identified the victims as:
- Dave Kennat, 56, of Navarre
- Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar
- Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar
- John Mosley, 18, of Mineral City
- Jeffery Worrell, 18, of Bolivar
- Katelyn Owens, 15, of Mineral City
Officials said none of the drivers were under the influence or distracted when the crash occurred. Officials also said that nobody on the bus had been wearing seat belts, but it's also unclear if the bus — owned by Pioneer Trails, Inc. — had any.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. It's expected to release preliminary findings in a few weeks. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said it will take around 12 to 18 months to complete the investigation. Homendy said at any point during the investigation, the NTSB may release recommendations as they see fit.