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Tractor-trailer driver charged in fiery Ohio bus crash that killed 6

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Tractor-trailer driver charged in fiery Ohio bus crash that killed 6


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COLUMBUS, Ohio — A truck driver in Ohio has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after he caused a chain-reaction crash involving a charter bus carrying high school students that left six people dead and 18 others injured last November.

Jacob McDonald, of Zanesville, Ohio, was indicted Thursday on 26 counts, including six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, nine counts of vehicular assault and 11 counts of assault. The charges McDonald faces include allegations that he was driving “recklessly.”

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The chain-reaction crash on Nov. 14, 2023, occurred on the westbound lane of Interstate 70 in Licking County, which is about 40 miles east of Columbus, Ohio’s capital city. Reports from the Ohio Department of Public Safety and National Transportation Safety Board revealed that McDonald, who was driving a tractor-trailer at the time, failed to slow down for a vehicle in front him.

The tractor-trailer then struck the vehicle, which pushed the car into the charter bus carrying 54 students and chaperones. Three students, a teacher and two other chaperones were killed in the incident.

McDonald is in the Licking County Justice Center on a $1 million bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. McDonald does not currently have an attorney listed as representing him.

The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate the crash.

Florida crash: 8 killed, dozens injured when bus carrying farmworkers crashes, overturns in Florida

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What happened in the crash?

Authorities said the crash involved five vehicles total, including the charter bus, the tractor-trailer, another commercial vehicle and two passenger vehicles. None of the drivers involved were found to be distracted or under the influence.

The charter bus carrying students and chaperones was headed to the last day of the Ohio School Boards Association conference in Columbus. It was occupied by a driver and 54 students, teachers and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools in Zoarville, Ohio.

In the NTSB’s report released last December, investigators said traffic had been backed up on the interstate due to a previous crash. McDonald did not slow down and hit the the rear of a 2015 Nissan Murano — occupied by a high school teacher and two chaperones.

The Nissan was traveling west in the right lane as it slowed for the backed-up traffic, the report said. The tractor-trailer then ran over the Nissan and collided into the charter bus, which struck the rear of a 2006 Toyota Highlander that rotated counterclockwise while traveling forward and hit a 2014 Volvo combination vehicle.

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Dozens of emergency personnel were dispatched to the crash site and area hospitals had been placed on alert for a “mass casualty incident.”

Documents obtained by The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, showed that the trucking company involved in the crash received previous citations for issues with its trucks, including defective brakes.

Truck driver faces several lawsuits

The estates of at least three of the victims who died in the crash have filed wrongful death lawsuits against a central Ohio trucking company and McDonald.

In the complaints, attorneys argued that Fyda Freightliner sold the semi-truck to Mid-State Systems — another trucking company — without standard safety systems. The attorneys said the semi-truck was not equipped with crash prevention safety systems that could have prevented the crash, and accused McDonald and the two companies of negligence.

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The companies have denied responsibility for the crash.

Contributing: Emily DeLetter, USA TODAY; Bailey Gallion and Patrick Flaherty, The Columbus Dispatch



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Ohio

Ryan Day explains Arthur Smith’s hiring as Ohio State coordinator

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8 hours ago

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March 3, 2026

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Ryan Day explains Arthur Smith’s hiring as Ohio State coordinator


Ryan Day explained the hiring process that led to former Falcons head coach and NFL assistant Arthur Smith becoming the offensive coordinator of Ohio State football.

Appearing as a guest on “The Jim Rome Show” March 3, Day emphasized the importance of hiring a someone with an extensive body of work to coach the Buckeyes’ offense.

More on Arthur Smith: 3 thoughts on Ohio State hiring Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator

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“When Brian [Hartline] moved on to South Florida [we] wanted to go bring in somebody with great experience,” Day said.

Day said the Buckeyes first looked at coaches with collegiate coordinator experience, then the NFL. Smith’s three-year tenure as a head coach in the NFL, along with his extensive time with the Tennessee Titans as an assistant and offensive coordinator, made him stand out as a candidate, Day said.

“…[I] had a chance myself to sit down and talk with him. It was excellent,” Day said. “He’s a great communicator, very intelligent, and really loves the game of college football. 
When you hear a story about growing up and how much time he spent around college football, you could just see it in his eyes.”

Day added that the new role has been almost “refreshing” to Smith when given the chance to work with college players and young talent.

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Smith has spent the majority of his coaching career in the NFL. He served a year as a graduate assistant at North Carolina, his alma mater, and brief stint with Ole Miss as an administrative assistant.

Smith was then hired by his hometown Titans in 2011 and spent the the rest of the decade with them, rising from quality control coach to assistant offensive line coach to tight ends coach. Promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019, he led Mike Vrabel’s Titans to proficient offensive seasons with running back Derrick Henry.

Day said hiring Smith will allow him to take a back seat on the offense.

“It was great to have Matt [Patricia] on defense, and Brian [Hartline] did a great job as well, but I think this year will allow me to even step back even more and try to do as much as I can from the head coaching seat,” Day said.

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After Hartline accepted the South Florida head coaching job, Day stepped in to call plays during the Cotton Bowl against Miami. Ohio State lost 24-14.

Smith joins Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as an Ohio State coordinator hire with previous NFL head coaching experience. Smith went 21-30 as the head coach of the Falcons for three years.



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Woman dies after saving grandchild playing in driveway from out-of-control car, Ohio officials say

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20 hours ago

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March 3, 2026

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Woman dies after saving grandchild playing in driveway from out-of-control car, Ohio officials say



/ CBS Pittsburgh

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A woman in Pickaway County, Ohio, died after moving a child out of the way of an out-of-control car, authorities said.

The Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook that 52-year-old Laura J. Hammond of Mt. Sterling was fatally struck by the vehicle on Feb. 27 on Walnut Creek Pike in Circleville.

The sheriff’s office said officials were called to the area for a report of a crash around 10 a.m. At the scene, investigators learned that the driver of a Nissan Sentra was headed southbound on Walnut Creek Pike when they went off the west side of the road. The car then careened through two yards before hitting a Chevrolet Equinox parked in the driveway of a home, officials said. 

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The Nissan, at the same time that it smashed into the Chevrolet, hit Hammond, pinning her between the two vehicles. Before being hit, the sheriff’s office said Hammond moved a child out of the way, which “more than likely saved his life.” CBS affiliate WBNS reported that the young child Hammond saved was her grandson.

“Laura actually picked up the child and tossed him. At the end of the day, it saved his life,” Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office Capt. John Strawser told the news outlet. “And when Laura tossed him, very unfortunately, she took the brunt of the vehicle.”

Hammond was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The young child was taken to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. 

The driver of the vehicle was also taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol are investigating the crash. The sheriff’s office did not release any additional information about the crash. 

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Auto parts maker to lay off 1,200 in Ohio amid fraud charges. Here’s where

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1 day ago

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March 2, 2026

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Auto parts maker to lay off 1,200 in Ohio amid fraud charges. Here’s where


First Brands closing corporate office in Cleveland, three other Ohio facilities amid bankruptcy. Its CEO is facing federal fraud charges

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  • Auto parts supplier First Brands is closing four Ohio facilities, including its Cleveland corporate office.
  • The closures will result in the permanent layoff of more than 1,200 workers by the end of April.
  • The company’s founder and former CEO and his brother are facing federal charges in an alleged multi-billion dollar fraud scheme.
  • First Brands, which supplies products like Fram oil filters, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025.

A major auto parts supplier is laying off more than a thousand workers and closing four facilities around Ohio, including its corporate offices in Cleveland.

First Brands, whose founder and former CEO is facing charges in multi-billion dollar fraud scheme, notified the state in late February of its intent to permanently close the facilities by April 30. The layoffs created by these closures are also permanent, according to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices filed with Ohio Job and Family Services.

The company — which supplies Fram oil filters and Anco wiper blades, among others — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025. In January, First Brands had started winding down some of its operations in North America while seeking a buyer, according to Reuters. However, several potential buyers “have suddenly and unexpectedly withdrawn or narrowed their bids” according to one of the recent WARN notices.

Which facilities are closing? And how many jobs are being lost? Here’s what to know.

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First Brands closing four Ohio locations, cutting more than 1,200 jobs

According to WARN notices, First Brands is closing the following facilities:

  • Corporate Office, 127 Public Square, Suite 5300, Cleveland. In the first round of layoffs here, 146 workers were cut on Feb. 23, according to a WARN notice sent that date. A second notice dated Feb. 27 for this address advises that the facility will close on April 30, and the remaining 110 workers will be laid off.
  • FRAM facility, 851 Jackson St., Greenville. According to a WARN notice sent Feb. 27, this facility will close April 30 and 302 jobs will be lost.
  • TMD facility, 1441 N. Maule Road, Tiffin. All 407 employees will be terminated when this facility is permanently closed on April 30, according to a Feb. 27 WARN notice.
  • TMD facility, 515 E. Gypsy Lane Road, Bowling Green. First Brands will also close this facility on April 30, laying off 302 workers, according to another Feb. 27 WARN notice.

In total, First Brands is laying off 1,267 workers in these four closures.

Papa Johns closing stores: Papa Johns to close 300 stores across US by 2027. Are any in Ohio?

Indictment alleges Cleveland auto supplier CEO, VP defrauded lenders. Both plead not guilty

First Brands Group founder and former CEO Patrick James and his brother, Edward, a senior vice president, are accused of defrauding lenders out of billions of dollars before the auto parts supplier fell into bankruptcy according to an indictment made public Jan. 29 in Manhattan federal court.

The nine-count indictment includes charges of running a continuing financial crimes enterprise, bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Both pleaded not guilty on Feb. 4, Reuters reports. A trial is set in July. Both could face decades in prison if convicted.

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Prosecutors said the defendants “perpetrated ​a series of fraudulent schemes” against First Brands’ lenders and financing partners, Reuters reported, including allegedly inflating invoices, double- and triple-pledging loan collateral, falsifying financial statements and concealing substantial liabilities.

“It is very much Mr. James’ intent to go into court and proclaim his innocence,” said Scott Hartman, a lawyer for Patrick James, according to Reuters.

Patrick James and Edward James are Malaysian-born U.S. citizens.

Seth DuCharme, a lawyer for Edward James, told Reuters that his client is not going to “run off to Southeast Asia where he allegedly has all this money.”

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What is First Brands Group? Company filed for bankruptcy in September

First Brands, founded in 2013, was one of the world’s largest suppliers of auto parts such as brakes, filters and ‍lighting systems, according to Reuters. It had $5 billion in sales last year.

Prosecutors say First Brands borrowed billions to finance its growth. Those loans were secured by inventory and physical assets like plants and equipment. Reuters reports that this left First Brands vulnerable to cash flow issues and dependent on its access to the capital from those loans.

The company filed for bankruptcy in September 2025. Patrick James stepped down as CEO that October, according to Crain’s Detroit Business.



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