NEWARK, Ohio — An Ohio semi-truck driver found guilty of vehicular homicide in connection with a deadly chain-reaction crash that killed six people on Interstate 70 in 2023 was sentenced Monday in a Licking County courtroom.

Jacob McDonald, 61, was sentenced to 180 days in jail for each of six counts of misdemeanor vehicular homicide, to be served consecutively. Due to Ohio’s sentencing laws, the maximum total sentence for the six counts is 18 months, which is what Judge David Branstool clarified in court. McDonald, who has been in jail since July 2024, received credit for 323 days served, leaving him with just over seven months remaining behind bars.

The sentencing comes after McDonald was found guilty on May 16 of lesser misdemeanor charges. He had originally faced 26 counts, including felony aggravated vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault, but the jury found the state did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that McDonald acted recklessly.

The crash happened on Nov. 14, 2023, when McDonald’s semi-truck collided with a charter bus carrying students and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School in eastern Ohio. The impact triggered a fiery chain-reaction crash involving the bus, McDonald’s truck, and an SUV in front of the truck. Six people died, including three students — John Mosley, 18; Jeffery Worrell, 18; and Katelyn Owens, 15 — as well as teacher Dave Kennat, 56, and parents and chaperones Kristy Gaynor, 39, and Shannon Wigfield, 45.

According to NBC4, prosecutors argued McDonald was following too closely and failed to slow down before impact. Data showed McDonald’s cellphone was using significant data minutes before the crash, raising questions about whether he was distracted, though defense attorneys argued that automatic updates or streaming audio books could also explain the usage.

Family members of the victims gave emotional statements in court, condemning the outcome as too lenient. Some called the ruling a “disgrace” and vowed to continue seeking accountability through civil lawsuits.

McDonald, who had nine prior traffic violations, expressed remorse in court, telling the victims’ families, “I pray every night for every single one of you… you can’t say I don’t have remorse because I do.”

In addition to jail time, McDonald’s commercial license was suspended for five years. He is expected to be released January 9, 2026.

Old News | 2 months ago