ZOAR, Ohio — A Tuscarawas Valley High School student is finally back home after weeks in the hospital following injuries sustained in the Nov. 14 charter bus crash in Licking County that claimed the lives of six people.
Brynn Goedel was recently released from Akron Children's Hospital, following a six-week recovery from her injuries. She was initially hospitalized in Columbus. Brynn suffered multiple pelvic fractures, rib fractures, severed sacrum, broken clavicle, lacerated bladder, and a concussion. She underwent four surgeries and is continuing the process of rehabilitation.
To assist Brynn and her family with medical expenses, a benefit event has been set for Saturday, Feb. 3 at Tuscarawas Valley Elementary School starting at 4 p.m. There will be a dinner, live auction, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and much more. Click here for more information.
The crash on Nov. 14 involved five vehicles heading westbound on I-70 near the Smoke Road underpass at approximately 8:52 a.m. The vehicles, in back-to-front order, were a Freightliner semi-trailer, Nissan Murano, the charter bus carrying Tusky Valley students and chaperones, Toyota Highlander and Volvo semi.
The six people who died in the crash included three Tusky Valley students who were on the bus:
- Wyatt Mosley, 18, Mineral City
- Jeffery "J.D." Worrell, 18, Bolivar
- Katelyn Owens, 15, Mineral City
The three other people who died were in the Murano. They were identified as Dave Kennat, 56, Navarre; Kristy Gaynor, 39, Zoar; and Shannon Wigfield, 45, Bolivar.
Brynn Goedel was one of 18 people who were hospitalized following the crash.
After a weeks-long investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pieced together a sequence of events and determined a probable cause for the incident.
The NTSB's preliminary report indicated that the semi involved in the crash did not slow down prior to striking the Nissan. It then went over the Nissan, hitting the charter bus. The report adds that the Nissan had slowed down due to traffic from an earlier crash. The NTSB continues to investigate the crash and is expected to release a list of safety recommendations.
