NEWARK, Ohio (WSYX) — The Jacob McDonald trial resumed Tuesday afternoon in Licking County.
Watch live coverage in the video player below:
McDonald is the truck driver indicted on 26 charges related to the deadly Tusky Valley bus crash that killed six people in 2023. Among his charges are six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
Watch Tuesday morning’s session in the video player below:
Prosecutors allege McDonald failed to slow his semi-truck on Interstate 70 near Etna, leading to a collision with a car and triggering a catastrophic chain reaction. A charter bus carrying members of the Tuscarawas Valley High School marching band caught fire. Six people were killed in the crash, including three band members, two parent chaperones and a teacher:
John (Wyatt) Mosley, 18Jeffery (J.D.) Worrell, 18Katelyn Owens, 15Shannon Wigfield, 45Kristy Gaynor, 39Dave Kennat, 56
On Monday, prosecutors showed body-worn camera video of state troopers questioning McDonald after the crash. Prosecutors also showed body-worn camera video of their response to the frantic scene.
Assistant Prosecutor Clifford Murphy suggested that McDonald was distracted at the time of the crash.
“We believe at the time he was looking at his cell phone,” he said Monday.
Prosecutors are expected to call more witnesses to testify Tuesday.
McDonald, who has been held on $1 million bond since his arrest, is not expected to testify.
This story will be updated.
