COLUMBUS, Ohio – A tragic accident on an Ohio interstate has claimed the lives of three people and left 18 others injured. The incident occurred when a semitrailer collided with a bus transporting students and chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District en route to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus.
According to Superintendent Dr. Derek Varansky, law enforcement officials have reported several serious injuries, and the district is working to gather more information. In a Facebook post, Varansky assured the community that updates regarding school schedules and events will be provided.
The crash involved a total of five vehicles on Interstate 70 West in Licking County, according to Lieutenant Nate Dennis of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Public Affairs Unit. Eighteen people from the charter bus were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the conditions of the injured and the specific cause of the accident remain unclear.
Director of Licking County Emergency Management Agency Sean Grady confirmed the number of deaths and injuries and offered condolences to the families affected. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine described the collision as “our worst nightmare” and expressed his sympathies during a news conference.
The police are investigating the crash in order to determine its cause.