Tusky Valley community members direct their emotions at truck driver, judge
NEWARK – Family and fellow community members of the six people killed in the 2023 Tusky Valley bus crash shared their sadness, frustration and anger in court on Monday, often directing it at the truck driver responsible and the judge who reduced the charges against him.
Licking County Judge David Branstool sentenced the truck driver, 61-year-old Jacob McDonald, to 18 months in jail on six counts of misdemeanor vehicular homicide, crediting him with 323 days already served leaving McDonald with about seven more months in a local jail.
Back in May, the judge found McDonald not guilty on 26 original charges that included felonies that could have put McDonald in state prison for more than 30 years. Instead, 18 months in local jail was the maximum sentence. Branstool’s decision to reduce the charges angered several who spoke, including Phil Fortune, the parent of a Tusky Valley student who was on the bus.
“I’m not here to talk about what a dirtbag Jacob McDonald is… I’m here to tell you, Branstool, you’re a disgrace, and this ruling is horrendous,” he said.
Branstool said prosecutors failed to prove McDonald was distracted by his cell phone before crashing his truck into an SUV and charter bus on Nov. 14, 2023, killing three Tusky Valley students and three chaperones who were accompanying them on a band trip.
McDonald apologized.
“I’m very sorry that this happened. I have no clue what happened. I’m not going to lie to you and say I did. And I pray every night to God – I do – for every single one of y’all and everybody involved in this accident.”
In addition to the jail sentence, McDonald’s license will be suspended for five years.
Victims’ families are pursuing civil lawsuits against McDonald, his employer and others.