Ohio State Highway Patrol investigating multiple-vehicle fatal crash in Licking County; governor orders flags lowered
The Granville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving a charter bus, two commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles in Etna Township, Licking County. The crash occurred Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 8:52 a.m. on Interstate 70 near state Route 310.
At this time, the investigation has revealed the vehicles were all traveling westbound on I-70 when the chain-reaction crash occurred. At least three of the vehicles subsequently caught fire as a result of the crash.
The charter bus was occupied by a driver and 54 students and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools. Three of the passengers on the bus were pronounced deceased at the scene. The deceased were identified as an 18-year-old from Mineral City, an 18-year-old from Bolivar and a 15-year-old from Mineral City.
A total of 15 students and the bus driver were transported to area hospitals. The remaining students were taken to a reunification site.
One of the passenger vehicles was occupied by three individuals. All three were pronounced deceased at the scene. The deceased were identified as a 56-year-old from Navarre, a 39-year-old from Zoar and a 45-year-old from Bolivar.
Of the two commercial vehicles involved, one driver was transported to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The other was treated and released at the scene. The driver of the second passenger vehicle was also transported to an area hospital.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol at (614) 466-2660.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by and would like to thank Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp and Licking County deputies, Tuscarawas Sheriff Orvis Campbell and Tuscarawas County deputies, West Licking Fire Department and EMS, Licking County Coroner’s Office, Jae’s Towing, Ohio Department of Transportation and multiple other agencies.
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Governor DeWine orders flags lowered in honor of those killed in Tuscarawas Valley Local School District bus crash
In honor of the lives of those killed in the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District bus crash, Governor Mike DeWine has ordered the flags of the United States of America and the State of Ohio to be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Tuscarawas and Stark counties, at the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center and Rhodes Tower from sunrise on Nov. 15, 2023 until sunset on Nov. 18, 2023.
All other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio at half-staff at their discretion for the same time period.