After three days of testimony and arguments, the truck driver accused in the fatal Tusky Valley bus crash is expected to learn his fate early next week.
Attorneys presented their closing arguments Thursday in the trial of 61-year-old Jacob McDonald. He is charged with 26 crimes, including six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, for the November 2023 Licking County crash that killed three Tusky Valley band members and three adult chaperones accompanying them on a field trip.
Prosecutor Clifford Murphy has argued that McDonald was watching his cell phone when the semi-trailer he was driving plowed into the rear of two vehicles, including a charter bus carrying the Tusky Valley band.
Defense attorney Chris Brigdon has argued aggressive breaking by the bus driver contributed to the crash and, since Murphy’s phone was destroyed in the crash, there is no evidence that proves he was looking at his phone.
McDonald chose a bench trial instead of a jury trial, so Licking County Judge David Branstool will decide the outcome.
Several victims of the crash have also filed civil lawsuits against McDonald, the charter bus driver, and the companies that own, operate or manufacture the truck and charter bus. A trial date for the civil matter is not scheduled until November 2026.
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