Final NTSB report blames fatal Tusky Valley crash on driver inattention
(WJER) (Sept. 25, 2025) – The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report into the fatal Tusky Valley charter bus chain-reaction crash from November of 2023 that killed three students and three adults.
61-year-old Jacob McDonald of Zanesville was given 18 months in jail for slamming into the back of traffic that had slowed down for another crash on I-70 east of Columbus with his semi.
The report indicates that McDonald’s semi was traveling at about 72 miles per hour right before the accident while the four vehicles ahead of him were going between 3 and 15 miles per hour when they were struck. It says there were no signs of evasive steering or rapid slowing by McDonald and that his semi left no skid marks on the road prior to striking the other vehicles.
The NTSB report blames driver inattention, though the reason for his inattention couldn’t be determined.
The NTSB criticizes the Ohio Department of Transportation for not having variable speed limit signs on that stretch of I-70. The report does point out that ODOT has since made several safety upgrades there, such as the installation of a new 15-foot-by-8-foot sign that can warn drivers about traffic congestion ahead.
The report also says commercial vehicles should have driver-monitoring systems – which McDonald’s semi did not have – and that schools should use charter bus companies that provide and require seat belts for all passengers on their vehicles.
You can read more HERE.