A truck driver convicted in the deadly bus crash on Interstate 70 nearly two years ago was sentenced Monday to 18 months in jail. Jacob McDonald was found guilty on six misdemeanor counts of vehicular homicide. He was found not guilty on more than a dozen felony charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, after the judge said there was a lack of evidence showing recklessness. The judge added that McDonald was criminally responsible for the crash. McDonald will receive a credit of 323 days for his sentence. Branstool also ordered that his license be suspended for five years. On Nov. 14, 2023, 54 students and three chaperones from the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District were on their way to Columbus for a band conference where they were supposed to perform. The crash occurred shortly on I-70 West in Licking County, near the Smoke Road underpass and about 26 miles east of Columbus. Five vehicles were involved in the fiery crash, including the Pioneer Trails charter bus that was transporting the students and chaperones from Tuscarawas Valley. According to an incident report by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, McDonald was driving a semitruck at 70 mph and did not slow down. He drove over a vehicle and then slammed into the bus. Three students on the bus were killed, including 18-year-old John Mosely, 15-year-old Katelyn Owens, and 18-year-old Jeffery Worrell. A teacher and two other chaperones also died, including 56-year-old Dave Kennat, 39-year-old Kristy Gaynor and 45-year-old Shannon Wigfield. The trial was held in May 2025 and lasted three days. Prior to reading the verdict, Judge David Branstool cited a lack of evidence regarding the data from McDonald's cellphone. He added that McDonald's actions in causing the crash were negligent but not reckless. McDonald could have faced three decades in prison if he had been convicted on all of the more serious charges, according to his attorney. On Monday, several family members of the victims spoke before McDonald was sentenced. Many of them criticized McDonald’s actions in the fatal crash and sought justice for their loved ones’ deaths. Some criticized Branstool’s ruling on the verdict. McDonald spoke before his sentencing and apologized to family members about what happened in the fatal crash. He added that he has remorse about the incident and does not recall what happened.