Ohio House passes bill designating portion of I-70 as Tuscarawas Valley Memorial Highway

Staff Reports
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COLUMBUS ‒ The Ohio House of Representatives has passed House Bill 380, legislation that will name 29 roads and bridges throughout Ohio. Included in the bill is a measure sponsored by state Reps. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville, and Kevin Miller, R-Newark, that will establish the Tuscarawas Valley Memorial Highway.

Chalk messages are seen left in remembrance of Wyatt Mosley, 18, a high school senior from Mineral City, Thursday, Nov. 16 at Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School in Zoarville. Wyatt, along with 5 other people – 3 of whom were students, died in a bus crash in Licking County.
Chalk messages are seen left in remembrance of Wyatt Mosley, 18, a high school senior from Mineral City, Thursday, Nov. 16 at Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School in Zoarville. Wyatt, along with 5 other people – 3 of whom were students, died in a bus crash in Licking County.

The bill will specifically memorialize a portion of I-70 in Licking County in honor the six people from the Tuscarawas Valley School District killed in a bus crash on Nov. 14, 2023.

Killed in the crash were senior John W. Mosley, 18, of Mineral City; senior Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, of Bolivar; sophomore Katelyn N. Owens, 15, of Mineral City; high school teacher Dave Kennat, 56, of Navarre; parent chaperone Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar; and parent chaperone Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar, who was a teacher at Buckeye Career Center.

The students and chaperones were on their way to an Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus. The high school band was scheduled to perform at the conference.

A report from the Ohio Department of Public Safety on the crash said that a 2019 semi followed too closely in traffic, failed to slow down and struck another vehicle before hitting the charter bus carrying students from Tuscarawas Valley Middle-High School.

“This highway ensures the lives lost in the tragic accident that deeply impacted the Tusky Valley community late last year are remembered and honored for generations to come,” said Hillyer.

House Bill 380 now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Ohio House passes bill creating Tuscarawas Valley Memorial Highway