Ohio Driver Convicted In Fiery Crash That Killed Six Released After Serving 18 Months

ZANESVILLE, OH. (THECOUNT.COM) — Jacob McDonald, of Zanesville, Ohio, who was convicted in a fiery Interstate 70 crash that killed six people, including three teenage students, has been released from jail after completing an 18-month sentence.

Jail records confirm McDonald, 62, was released from the Licking County Justice Center on January 17 after serving an 18-month sentence tied to the deadly November 14, 2023 crash in western Licking County.

According to court findings, McDonald was operating a tractor-trailer at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Interstate 70 when he failed to slow for traffic that had slowed or stopped ahead. Investigators determined McDonald’s vehicle struck an SUV before crashing into the rear of a charter bus transporting students from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools to a scheduled band performance in Columbus.

The collision triggered a chain-reaction crash and fire that engulfed multiple vehicles. Authorities confirmed that six people were killed as a result of the crash, including John Mosley, 18, Jeffery Worrell, 18, Katelyn Owens, 15, Dave Kennat, 56, Kristy Gaynor, 39, and Shannon Wigfield, 46.

In addition to the fatalities, at least 18 other individuals were injured in the crash, several of whom required hospitalization. Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded to the scene, which was closed for hours as investigators worked to document the damage and clear debris from the roadway.

McDonald was charged with six counts of vehicular homicide following the incident. After a three-day bench trial in Licking County Common Pleas Court, Judge David Branstool found McDonald guilty on all six counts, each classified as a misdemeanor under Ohio law.

Prosecutors had sought felony aggravated vehicular homicide convictions, arguing McDonald’s actions met the threshold for more serious charges. However, the court ruled that the state failed to meet the burden of proof required to elevate the charges to felony offenses.

In June 2024, Judge Branstool sentenced McDonald to the maximum penalty permitted under the misdemeanor convictions — 18 months in jail. The court also imposed a five-year suspension of McDonald’s commercial driver’s license as part of the sentencing.

At the time of sentencing, McDonald received credit for 323 days already served while awaiting trial, reducing the remaining time he was required to spend in custody. His release on January 17 marked the completion of the full sentence ordered by the court.

The crash prompted widespread scrutiny of traffic safety and commercial vehicle operations on Ohio highways, particularly regarding congestion awareness and response times in construction and high-traffic zones. Interstate 70, one of the state’s busiest corridors, has been the site of several serious crashes in recent years.

No additional charges are pending against McDonald related to the incident. Court records indicate he remains subject to the license suspension and any other post-release conditions imposed as part of his conviction.

Thankfully, the five-year suspension of McDonald’s driver’s license is set to begin upon his release from jail and does not include the 18 months he served behind bars.

The case remains one of the deadliest traffic incidents in recent Ohio history involving a school-related trip.

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