NEWARK, Ohio — The truck driver who was found guilty of causing a crash that killed six people in a tragic 2023 bus accident involving high school students was sentenced to 18 months.
Jacob McDonald was credited for 323 days served, which means he will spend the next eight months in prison and will be free in early 2026. His license has also been suspended for five years.
Watch the victim impact statements and sentencing:
Last month, McDonald was convicted on six counts of vehicular homicide for his role in the crash that killed three high school students and three adults.
He was facing six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, felonies of the third degree, nine counts of vehicular assault, felonies of the fourth degree, and 11 counts of assault, misdemeanors of the first degree.
He was found not guilty of the most serious charges:
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On the morning of Nov. 14, 2023, a charter bus carrying Tusky Valley High School band members headed to an event in Columbus was involved in a chain-reaction crash on I-70 in Licking County. Investigators said a semi-truck driven by McDonald slammed into an SUV and then the bus.
All three people in the SUV were killed: high school teacher Dave Kennat, 56, of Navarre, parent chaperone Kristy Gaynor, 39, of Zoar, and parent chaperone Shannon Wigfield, 45, of Bolivar.
Three students on the bus died: John Mosley, 18, of Mineral City, JD Worrell, 18, of Bolivar, and Katelyn Owens, 15, of Mineral City.
Victim impact statements given before the sentencing were powerful and emotional.
A statement read on behalf of a student who was on the bus at the time of the crash said they will live with trauma for the rest of their lives.
Lisa Heuser, who is Shannon Wigfield's sister, said, "You took the lives of six people, including three children. The victims and families will never be the same."
Susan Abbhul, Wigfield's mother, said, "I just hope none of you ever have to bury a child because it's something that will never go away. This is how I'm gonna feel for the rest of my life."
Multiple people who spoke during the sentencing used the opportunity to voice disappointment with Judge David Barnstall, who ruled that the driver was negligent, not reckless.
"You're everything that's wrong with the judicial system. All your empathy is for the criminals. You got nothing for the victims. You're not a judge. You're an activist in a robe." said Phil Fortune, the father of a student who was on the bus.
McDonald spoke during the sentencing, saying, "You can't say that I have no remorse because I have very much remorse. Every day that I live, I have remorse."
Chris Brigdon, McDonald's attorney, said, "It was a terrible accident. We'll never know exactly what he was doing."
Families of victims say they plan to push lawmakers for change.
"How do we make mandatory for somebody that kills six people? How do you kill six people and walk away with 18 months?" said Fortune.
