Mary Alice Reporting –
Flags in Tuscarawas and Stark counties were ordered, by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, to fly at half-staff from November 15th through the 18th to honor the lives of those killed in a fiery Tuesday crash.
Official details have been released by the Granville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol related to a multi-vehicle accident.
The incident was on I-70, just before 9am, when the westbound chain collision occurred. A cause for that collision between the charter bus, two commercial vehicles, and two passenger cars is still under investigation.
Tuscarawas Valley Local School District Superintendent Derek Veransky noted, in a social media release, that, “those lost in [the] tragedy include senior J.D. Worrell,18, from Bolivar, senior Wyatt Mosley, 18, of Mineral City, and sophomore Katelyn Owens, 15, from Mineral City, as well as high school teacher Dave Kennat, 56, from Navarre, and parents Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar, and 54-year-old Shannon Wigfield, of Bolivar, who also served as a teacher at Buckeye Career Center.”
Of the two semi drivers, one was treated on scene and the other transported with non-life-threatening injuries. Additionally, 15 students and the bus driver were taken to area hospitals, and at the time, the remaining children were taken to a reunification site.
Superintendent Veransky added that school will be in session on Wednesday and that councilors and support staff will be on-hand to support students and staff. If anyone is struggling in this aftermath, the crisis hotline is available at 330-343-6631 or call/text the state helpline at 988.
Community members can help with recovery support by donating to a Tusky Valley Band Fundraiser, with all proceeds will go toward the band and families.
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