Man convicted in fatal Tusky Valley bus crash released from jail
NEWARK (WJER) (Jan. 20, 2026) – Jacob McDonald, the man convicted in the fatal Tusky Valley charter bus crash, has been released from the Licking County Jail after being credited for time already served.
The crash occurred on November 14, 2023, as 54 Tusky Valley band students and three chaperones were traveling to Columbus. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, McDonald was driving a semitruck at roughly 70 miles per hour and failed to slow down for stopped traffic, triggering a chain‑reaction collision.
McDonald, 62, of Zanesville, was found guilty of six counts of misdemeanor vehicular homicide and sentenced to 18 months in jail. Licking County Common Pleas Judge David Branstool ruled that McDonald’s actions were negligent but not reckless, which prevented felony convictions for aggravated vehicular homicide and significantly reduced the potential length of his sentence.
The crash claimed the lives of three students, a teacher, and two additional chaperones. Wrongful death lawsuits connected to the incident remain pending.