LICKING COUNTY, Ohio — Students and staff in the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District are back in class Wednesday, just one day after a deadly I-70 charter bus crash in Licking County took the lives of six people, including three students who were on the bus, and three chaperones who were riding in the car that was following the bus.
Among those killed were:
- Wyatt Mosley, 18, Mineral City
- Jeffery "J.D." Worrell, 18, Bolivar
- Katelyn Owens, 15, Mineral City
- Dave Kennat, 56, Navarre
- Kristy Gaynor, 39, Zoar
- Shannon Wigfield, 45, Bolivar
A Facebook post published on Tuesday read in part:
Though difficult, school will be in session tomorrow. We do not want children home alone, yet we respect students and parents who wish for their child to remain at home. Counselors and support staff from many community organizations and neighboring districts will be on site tomorrow to support students and staff as we grieve this loss.
According to Superintendent Dr. Derek Varansky, high school band members and chaperones were on a charter bus on their way to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus when the crash occurred around 9 a.m. on Interstate 70 West, near the Smoke Road underpass.
Officials say the charter bus was rear-ended by a semi-truck. There were 55 people on board, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. In addition to the six killed, 20 students were treated at five different area hospitals.
Since the crash, condolences from across the country have poured in, especially in the comment section of the superintendent's Facebook post.
"From central Oklahoma, my thoughts are with the entire Tusky Valley district. This is a senseless tragedy."
"Band is family. Heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the TV community from the Canon McMillan Big Mac Band, Canonsburg, PA."
"Sending hugs, love and prayers from KY."
"Praying for your community from WV."
"Prayers in West Texas tonight. Springlake-Earth School Board. Springlake-Earth, TX. Our hearts are with you tonight and always."
A press conference with NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy is expected around 4 p.m. today. We plan to stream the press conference live inside this story. You can also watch more coverage on our YouTube channel.
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