TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio — Students at Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools returned to class Wednesday morning with heavy hearts.
Three of their students, who the district says were “bright lights” and “full of life,” were killed in a bus crash on Interstate 70 in Licking County on Tuesday. A high school teacher and two parent chaperones were also killed.
A charter bus carrying 54 students and chaperones was heading to Columbus for the Ohio School Boards Association conference when a semitruck rear-ended it, according to Licking County Emergency Management Agency Director Sean Grady.
The crash was a result of a chain reaction with a total of five vehicles being involved in the incident.
The school district said the people who died in the crash were high school seniors J.D. Worrell and Wyatt Mosley, high school sophomore Katelyn Ownes, high school teacher Dave Kennat and parents Kristy Gaynor and Shannon Wigfield. Wigfield also served as a teacher at the Buckeye Career Center.
A total of 15 students and the bus driver were brought to area hospitals, while other students were taken to a reunification site, officials said.
“There are no words for the magnitude of loss and grief felt by all of us,” Superintendent Derek Varansky said in a letter to families.
The superintendent said counselors met with students and staff on Tuesday to provide support and help them grieve.
“I encourage us to stay strong, united, and supportive of one another in the days and weeks to come. Please keep the families in your thoughts and prayers. Please be in touch with any of us here at TV anytime if we can be of service or support to you and your family,” Varansky said in the letter.
You can read the full statement from the superintendent below.
TV Family,
Our hearts are broken by the tragic accident that happened today involving members of our high school band on their way to perform at the Ohio School Boards Association conference. We are saddened to share that we lost three students in the accident, students who were bright lights, full of life, and who lost their lives way too young.
In addition, a car following the bus which contained one of our teachers and two parent chaperones was involved in the accident. Tragically, all three lost their lives. There are no words for the magnitude of loss and grief felt by all of us.
Those lost in today’s tragedy include senior J.D. Worrell, senior Wyatt Mosley, and sophomore Katelyn Owens as well as high school teacher Dave Kennat, and parents Kristy Gaynor, and Shannon Wigfield, who also served as a teacher at Buckeye Career Center.
Twenty of our students were transported with reported injuries to five different Columbus-area hospitals. As of this notification, 18 of those children have been discharged from the hospital and released to parents. Two of our students remain hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the accident, all of our uninjured students and directors were transported to a local church where students received care, counseling, and reunification began with families. In the meantime, back in the district, counselors met with all of our middle-high school students to provide support. All students were given the option to go home for the day. At the conclusion of the school day, counselors and Sheriff Campbell met with all district staff to learn more and to grieve.
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.
Thank you to the many school districts and community agencies near and far who reached out today to show their love and support for the TV district and are lifting our district up in their thoughts and prayers.
I encourage us to stay strong, united, and supportive of one another in the days and weeks to come. Please keep the families in your thoughts and prayers. Please be in touch with any of us here at TV anytime if we can be of service or support to you and your family.
If you are struggling, please call the crisis hotline at 330-343-6631 or call or text the state helpline at 988.
You can read the full release from the State Highway Patrol here: Full Press Release: https://statepatrol.ohio.gov/.../patrol-investigating...
Dr. Varansky,
Superintendent