Nearly two years after a devastating collision on Interstate 70 in Ohio, federal investigators say a truck driver’s lack of attention set off the chain of events that killed six people.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a 92-page report detailing its investigation into the Nov. 14, 2023 crash near state Route 310 in Etna Township.
The crash unfolded just before 9 a.m. when five vehicles — including a charter bus carrying students, two commercial trucks, and two passenger cars — were traveling westbound on I-70. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, at least three of the vehicles caught fire after impact.
At the time, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said one passenger car was crushed between the bus and a truck that slammed into it from behind.
The six victims were identified as John Mosley, 18, Jeffery Worrell, 18, Katelyn Owens, 15, Dave Kennat, 56, Kristy Gaynor, 39, and Shannon Wigfield, 46, WOSU Public Media reported.
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Report Findings
Investigators concluded the truck driver failed to respond to “visibly slow-moving vehicles” ahead, which had been delayed by an earlier minor crash. The agency also faulted insufficient traffic monitoring and the lack of warnings for drivers approaching the traffic queue.
Just before impact, the truck was moving at about 72 mph, while the other vehicles slowed to between 3 and 15 mph. The NTSB said the high speed difference, combined with a post-crash fire, intensified the destruction.
The report also pointed to the absence of an in-vehicle driver monitoring system as a contributing factor.
“We’ve seen this crash scenario far too often—and it’s preventable,” Homendy said in a news release. “Proven technologies can warn drivers of slowed traffic and prevent collisions before they happen. What’s needed are stronger vehicle safety standards, better traffic incident management and swift action on our recommendations. Lives depend on it.”
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Legal Outcome
In May, the truck driver, Jacob McDonald, was convicted of six counts of misdemeanor vehicular homicide, according to WOSU, CBS affiliate WBNS, and NBC affiliate WLWT. He was acquitted of felony aggravated vehicular homicide charges after a judge ruled prosecutors had not proven recklessness.
A month later, McDonald was sentenced to 18 months in prison with credit for time served. Licking County inmate records show his expected release date as Jan. 17, 2026.
PEOPLE reached out to Mid State Systems, the operator of the tractor trailer, for comment on Friday, Sept. 26.
