May 16, 2025

Ohio trucker cleared of felony charges in tragic bus crash

Steve Smith

Ohio trucker cleared of felony charges in tragic bus crash

A truck driver involved in a deadly crash with a high school band bus has been cleared of all felony charges in an Ohio court.

The outcome: Jacob McDonald, 61, was found guilty on six misdemeanor counts of vehicular homicide on May 16. He was acquitted of felony charges tied to the 2023 collision that killed six people.

The state could not prove McDonald acted recklessly, a requirement for felony conviction.
Initially, McDonald faced 26 charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.

Background: The crash occurred on Interstate 70 when McDonald's semi truck rear-ended a vehicle caught in traffic from an earlier wreck, pushing it into the bus. Three students and three adult chaperones lost their lives that day.

Judge David Branstool explained that the evidence did not support the serious charges led against McDonald, according to MySanAntonio.

What's next: McDonald awaits sentencing, facing a possible sentence of up to 18 months.

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