NTSB shares new details about Tusky Valley crash
WASHINGTON (WJER) (Nov. 22, 2024) – The National Transportation Safety Board has released the public docket with new information into its investigation of the Tusky Valley charter bus tragedy on I-70 east of Columbus last November.
Three band members and three adult chaperones lost their lives.
61-year-old Jacob McDonald of Zanesville, who is in jail in Licking County, drove the semi blamed for causing the chain reaction crash. The NTSB says he was driving approximately 75 miles per hour – or five over the speed limit – minutes before the crash. Video from another semi showed no signs of McDonald attempting to use emergency braking ahead of impact.
McDonald told troopers he couldn’t recall the moments before getting injured in the crash.
Investigators say McDonald’s cell phone about 10 minutes before being destroyed in a fire from the crash was using nearly enough data to stream high-definition video. The report also lists prior speeding violations for McDonald, including one in 2022 when he was pulled over and his phone was open to a video game.
McDonald is facing more than two dozen criminal charges – including six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide – and at least four lawsuits in connection to the crash. The final NTSB report has been expected to take up to two years to complete.