'All heartbroken': 3 students, a teacher and 2 parents killed in Ohio bus and semi crash
The fatal chain-reaction crash along Interstate 70 in Licking County took the lives of six members of the Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools community.
Three students died, along with a teacher and two parents who were accompanying the high school band to a performance at a Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus. The school community is in mourning.
The victims are:
Katelyn Owens, 15, a high school sophomore from Mineral City
Wyatt Mosley, 18, a high school senior from Mineral City
Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, a high school senior from Bolivar
Dave Kennat, 56, a high school teacher from Navarre
Kristy Gaynor, 39, a parent-chaperone from Zoar
Shannon Wigfield, 45, a parent-chaperone from Bolivar, who also was a teacher at Buckeye Career Center
“We are all heartbroken and so many people loved our daughter,” Katelyn's mother Erika Owens said in a text message as she and her husband Mike made the two-hour trip from Columbus to their home the day after the crash.
Superintendent Derek Varansky wrote on social media that the three students "were bright lights, full of life, and who lost their lives way too young. In addition, a car following the bus which contained one of our teachers and two parent chaperones was involved in the accident. Tragically, all three lost their lives. There are no words for the magnitude of loss and grief felt by all of us."
A dark day: Tusky Valley community gathers to mourn loss of 6 who died in I-70 crash
Here is a look at the victims:
Katelyn N. Owens of Mineral City
Aly Doby, a friend of Katelyn, posted a tribute to her on Facebook Wednesday.
“Everyone is heartbroken & in shock that (you’re) gone,” the New Philadelphia woman wrote. ”You are the sweetest person I know and you gained your angel wings (too) soon and I truly can’t understand why if I’m being honest. You’re only 15 with so much more to see and experience in the world.”
Doby, a cosmetologist, had styled the younger girl’s hair for such special occasions as a recent homecoming dance.
“You definitely brought joy into the house the few times you and your mom came over,” wrote Doby, a graduate of Indian Valley High School in Gnadenhutten and Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia. “Now I’m sitting here wondering why. Why you were needed so soon. I feel sick knowing you’re gone. You have your wings now. Adventure and do everything you’ve dreamed of & promise to watch over everyone.”
Jeffery D. “JD” Worrell of Bolivar
Jeffery “JD” D. Worrell, 18, was a junior when he was the May 2023 Tuscarawas Valley Fine Arts Student of the Month.
The commendation said he is the son of Deanna and George Worrell III.
“JD is a member of the TVHS Marching & Concert Bands, Select Choir, (Drama) Club, Speech & Debate team and the Pep Club," it said. "JD is also a morning office aide and regularly reads the morning announcements. His hobbies include studying mental health, playing basketball, conversing with or interviewing people, singing and working out. After graduation, JD plans to major in psychology and vocal music or find a job doing voice overs or voice acting.”
Kayla (Worrell) Ross has started a GoFundMe page to help with his funeral expenses. She wrote, “Jeffery was such an amazing son, brother, uncle, partner and friend. There's not a bit of Jeffery that wasn't just trying to spread kindness or help others. He loved every aspect of life to the fullest.”
Crash update coming: National Transportation Safety Board to address deadly Ohio crash that killed students
Wyatt Mosley of Mineral City
Senior Wyatt Mosley, 18, was the school’s October 2023 Fine Arts Student of the Month.
“Wyatt is the son of Sondra and Christopher Mosley,” said the announcement of his award. “Wyatt is a member of the TVHS Marching Band, Select Choir, Drama Club and track team. Wyatt was recently selected to participate in the Ohio Music Educators Association All-State Choir. His hobbies include singing, programming & exercising. After graduation, Wyatt plans to take a gap year to pursue a career in acting and then go to college for computer programming.”
Shannon Wigfield of Bolivar
Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar was a bright light for students at the Buckeye Career Center, BCC Superintendent Bob Alsept said.
Students knew they could talk to their English teacher about anything from personal matters to schoolwork, he said. Teaching was her passion.
So, when an 18-year-old Carrollton High School student died in a fire on Nov. 11, many career center students who knew him went to Wigfield, he said.
“It’s been a hard week here even though he was not from our district,” Alsept said. “We’re still trying to understand her loss.”
Wigfield, he said, went above and beyond for her students, often volunteering her spare time to help plan events like prom.
“She was always happy and enthusiastic,” Alsept said. “I don’t think she had bad days.”
Wigfield, a parent chaperone on the bus ride, leaves behind her husband, Richard Wigfield, and three children. Her husband is a firefighter and paramedic with Jackson Township.
“We are thankful for all of the kind words we’ve received today,” Alsept said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those we lost.”
To help students and faculty, counselors and social workers will be available along with service dogs, he said.
Dave Kennat of Navarre
From skiing to gardening and camping, 56-year-old Dave Kennat's love for the outdoors is what defined him, according to his LinkedIn profile.
As a teacher at Tuscarawas Valley High School for 31 years, the Navarre resident found ways to marry his dual passions for mathematics and nature.
“I take my mathematical thinking with me to every endeavor and believe that problem solving is one of the most important traits a person can have,” Kennat wrote on LinkedIn. “I hope I can impart a sense of problem solving to my students as this may be the most important lesson they learn.”
While he enjoyed camping, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing and gardening, he wrote that skiing was his true love.
Thinking about it year-round, he said there is nothing like the freedom of standing 11,000 feet above a valley. He hoped to impart this feeling to his students through the ski club, which he advised at the high school.
Kennat previously volunteered at Wanake Camp and Retreat Center in Beach City for 33 years, where he worked as a counselor, assistant director, photographer and videographer, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Camp Director Julie Lautt said the camp community is grieving."His enthusiasm for the ministry, for people, and for fun was contagious," she said. "Dave’s passion for the Wanake gardens and nurturing the unique wildflowers on site was effervescent. One could find him often pulling weeds, planting annuals, and thinning/transplanting perennials.
"Dave enjoyed leading hikes, doing adventurous things, and belaying rock climbing with campers and staff. Behind the scenes, Dave was ever the willing servant, helping in the kitchen, with maintenance tasks, and upkeep of the Wanake alumni website, picture galleries, and Facebook page. Dave Kennat was at Wanake for many years, on many days, in many ways, and has impacted many people. The Wanake family is grateful for his life, is grieving his death, and has the hope of his eternal life in Jesus."
For two years, Kennat also worked as a director of another camp, Wakonda in Sherrodsville.
He graduated from Ohio University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics education and from Ashland University in 1999 with a master’s degree of education in curriculum and instruction computer science.
Kristy Gaynor of Zoar
Kristy Gaynor, 39, volunteered her time in the close-knit community of Zoar and Tuscarawas County, including as a parent-chaperone on the bus that crashed Tuesday.
When she wasn’t volunteering, she was an account representative of 16 years at Indian River Graphics, an advertising and marketing agency owned by her husband, according to LinkedIn.
She and her husband, Mark Gaynor, celebrated 16 years of marriage on Oct. 12.
She graduated from Malone University with a bachelor’s degree in history, communications and English.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.
Reach Bryce by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter: @bryce_buyakie
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio bus, semi crash victims: 3 students, a teacher and 2 parents
