After a comprehensive trial, Jacob McDonald, aged 61, standing trial for the tragic accident that claimed six lives on Interstate 70, has been handed his verdict. Licking County Judge David Branstool found McDonald not guilty of the most serious charges against him, instead convicting him on six amended counts of vehicular homicide. As WKYC reports, the judge determined that the evidence presented did not indicate recklessness on McDonald's part, resulting in the not guilty verdicts for the higher charges that included aggravated vehicular homicide.
The judge gave his decision on Friday afternoon, acquitting McDonald on counts one through six and seven through 15. "I'm gonna enter a not-guilty verdict on counts one through six and seven through 15. However, I will enter guilty verdicts on the lesser-included offenses, which are vehicular homicide," Judge Branstool stated according to ABC6. The judgment reflects the court's findings that McDonald did not "knowingly" cause the collision, a factor that led to the acquittal of the more serious charges.
The fatal incident has profoundly affected the Tuscarawas Valley community since it occurred in November 2023. The collision on I-70 near State Route 310 involved a semi-truck operated by McDonald that struck a bus, resulting in the deaths of three Tuscarawas Valley students. Facing 26 counts in total, McDonald was charged after the investigations conducted by authorities following the disaster.
As the judicial process moves forward, sentencing for the six counts of vehicular homicide is yet to be scheduled, leaving the community and the victims' families awaiting closure. In the representation of Shannon Wigield's family, one of the victims, attorney Sean Alto of Cooper Elliot shared a statement acquired by WTOV9, indicating that the family is pursuing a civil case in light of the recent developments. While the trial's verdict may not bring back those lost, it is a significant step in the legal reckoning for one of the darkest days in the area's recent history.
