Mineral City, Ohio (WOIO) – Thursday marks one year since the tragic bus crash that killed six people in the Tusky Valley community.

Three students and three chaperones from Tusky Valley High School died in a five-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 in Licking County on Nov. 14, 2023.

The Pioneer Trails Charter bus was carrying students to a school play in Columbus when it was rear-ended by a semi.

Three students on board the bus were killed. They were identified as John Mosley, 18, Mineral City, Jeffery Worrell, 18, Bolivar, and Katelyn Owens, 15, Mineral City.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash set off a chain reaction that involved three additional vehicles, including one carrying the three companions.

The attendants killed in the crash were identified as Dave Kennat, 56, Tusky Valley teacher, Navarra, Kristy Gaynor, 39, Zoar, and Shannon Wigfield, Buckeye Career Center language arts teacher, 45, Bolivar.

“Such a loss is still incomprehensible and we will always miss the laughter, smiles, humor and words of encouragement from Kristy, Dave, Wyatt, Katelyn, Shannon and JD,” posted Dr. Tusky Valley Superintendent Derek Varansky on Facebook. .

Dr. Varansky added that school will remain in session Thursday to ensure students are not home alone, but there will be no district-run community events to “give the six families privacy and allow them to spend the day as they wish “.

Residents are invited to a memorial walk/run on Sunday, November 17 at noon in the school stadium.

“The event will begin with a moment of silence followed by a community prayer before the memorial walk/run begins. We hope you will join us in walking or running six laps, six hours or anything in between to honor and celebrate the lives and legacies of Kristy, Dave, Wyatt, Katelyn, Shannon and JD will never be forgotten,” posted Dr. Varansky on Facebook.

The driver of the semi, Jacob McDonald, faces a total of 26 charges, including six counts of vehicular homicide, nine counts of vehicular assault and 11 counts of assault.

FRONT COVER: Semi truck driver in Licking County crash who killed people indicted on 26 counts

His trial is scheduled to begin on December 2.

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