NEWARK, Ohio (WSYX) — The trial of Jacob McDonald, the truck driver involved in a fatal crash that claimed six lives, began Monday in Licking County.
McDonald was indicted on 26 charges related to the deadly crash, including six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
The incident, which has drawn nationwide attention, involved McDonald’s semi-truck running over a car and crashing into a charter bus, setting both vehicles on fire.
Prosecutors allege that on November 14, 2023, 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.
Among the victims was 45-year-old Shannon Wigfield, who was in the car behind the bus at the time of the crash. Wigfield was one of two school chaperones joining the band on a trip to Columbus for a performance at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Wigfield’s sister, Lisa Heuser, traveled from New York to attend the trial.
“I need to be here to honor my sister and get justice for my sister and all of the other victims of this crash,” Heuser said. “It was a crash that didn’t need to happen in the first place. We miss my sister very much.”
Wigfield was a beloved English teacher at Buckeye Career Center in Tuscarawas County, but her son is part of the Tusky Valley Band.
“She was with her son and the band that she loved when this happened,” Heuser said. “I don’t think that she would have even regretted going with them because I think she honestly … their vehicle may have saved more students on that bus that day.”
We miss her every single day. She was just the light of the room and her smile.She just lit up the room. She was just amazing. She did everything for everybody and she would give you the shirt off her back. – Lisa Heuser
Heuser said Wigfield was a mom to three kids. Their whole family is struggling to cope with the tragedy.
“I just want the three of them to be happy and healthy,” Heuser said. “It’s been a rough year and a half. Two of them are graduating. The boys are graduating this year. One is going to Ohio State, and she will miss all of it. And my niece, she is in eighth grade, and she is struggling. She just misses her mother.”
On Monday, the Licking County Courthouse was filled with community members and staff from the Tuscarawas Valley School District, including its superintendent, who gathered in overflow rooms to support the grieving families.
Wigfield’s family is asking for prayers and support for all the victims as the trial continues.
