Memorial highway designation requested for Tusky Valley bus crash victims
COLUMBUS (WJER) (Jan. 24, 2024) – The part of I-70 where three teens and three adults were killed in a fiery chain reaction crash last fall could soon become Tusky Valley Memorial Highway.
51st District State Representative Brett Hillyer has introduced a bill to do just that with his counterpart from Licking County. He says it’s important that we never forget the lives lost in the November 14th crash involving a charter bus carrying the Tusky Valley Marching Band to Columbus or the heroism that occurred in the aftermath.
“Not just some of the first responders that were on scene but the stories of some of the parents and faculty who were on the bus and did everything they could to minimize the tragedy for other students.”
The accident hit close to home for Hillyer, who grew up in Tuscarawas County. He led his House colleagues in a moment of silence for those impacted and paid his respects to the victims in person.
“I was able to attend a number of the calling hours or funeral services for the family. You could cut with a knife the emotion that was in the room.”
Hillyer expects broad, bi-partisan support for the bill, which he says will likely head to the transportation committee initially.