LICKING COUNTY, Ohio — The man facing charges in the fatal bus crash that left six people dead last year will keep his bond set at $1 million.
Jacob McDonald, 61, appeared virtually in Licking County court Tuesday afternoon for a bond hearing. He faces six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, nine counts of vehicular assault and 11 counts of assault.
The assistant prosecutor went through the events of Nov. 14 to prove the need for the $1 million bond.
“He ran over and through a 2015 Nissan Murano at 74 miles per hour, which then set off a chain reaction where he hit a 2009 charter bus with the Tusky Valley band in it,” he said. “Investigators would find no evidence of any avoidance measures by the defendant prior to the initial impact or through the impact.”
The state also believes cellphone use might have been a factor that day.
“Despite having a no cellphone use policy in the defendant’s employer and pursuant to law, large amounts of data were received to his cellphone prior to the crash,” the assistant prosecutor said.
Five vehicles were involved in a fiery crash, including a Pioneer Trails charter bus transporting students and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District to a conference in Columbus. There were a total of 57 people onboard.
The victims were identified as 18-year-old John Mosley, 18-year-old Jeffery Worrell, 15-year-old Katelyn Owens, 56-year-old Dave Kennat, 39-year-old Kristy Gaynor and 45-year-old Shannon Wigfield. All three teens killed in the crash were on the bus, while the three adults were inside of a passenger vehicle.
McDonald is expected to be back in Licking County court at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 30 for an arraignment.