Grieving begins after deadly Tusky Valley bus crash
ZOARVILLE (WJER) (Nov. 15, 2023) – The Tusky Valley community came together last night to honor the three high school students and three adults killed in a fiery chain-reaction collision in Licking County.
The stands at the stadium were packed for a prayer vigil hours after the deadly crash on I-70 involving a charter bus carrying 54 band members to Columbus to perform at the Ohio School Boards Association Conference.
Superintendent Derek Varansky read the names of the deceased as staff lit candles in their honor.
The district and state highway patrol have identified the victims as seniors JD Worrell and Wyatt Mosley; sophomore Katelyn Owens; high school math teacher Dave Kennat; 39-year-old Kristy Gaynor of Zoar; and Shannon Wigfield, who taught at Buckeye Career Center.
Varansky said 20 injured students were taken to five area hospitals and everyone else to a local church where they received care, counseling, and reunification began with families.
Two students remained hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries at the time of the vigil.
The ADAMHS board has provided counselors to the schools in the district. All are open today but attendance is optional.
A video of the vigil is on the WJER Facebook page.