Truck driver Jacob McDonald has been found not guilty of felony charges but convicted on six misdemeanor counts of vehicular homicide for a fatal crash that killed six people in 2023. The 61-year-old driver was facing a total of 26 charges stemming from the deadly collision with a high school marching band bus in Ohio.
Judge David Branstool delivered the verdict on Friday in Licking County Court, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove McDonald acted with the recklessness required for felony convictions. The November 2023 crash occurred when McDonald’s semi failed to slow for traffic on Interstate 70 and rear-ended a car that then struck the band bus.
“This job gives me the opportunity to recognize how, at various points in our life, we’re all just a few feet or a few seconds away from disaster. And that’s what happened here,” Branstool stated during the proceedings.
Three students and three adult chaperones lost their lives in the collision. The tragedy occurred when traffic had slowed due to a previous accident on the interstate.
McDonald was initially charged with six third-degree felony counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, nine fourth-degree felony counts of vehicular assault and 11 first-degree misdemeanor counts of assault, according to reports.
Despite the dismissal of the more serious charges, McDonald still faces consequences for the fatal crash. His attorney indicated he could receive up to 18 months of incarceration at his upcoming sentencing hearing.
The case has drawn significant attention in Ohio, particularly among the communities affected by the loss of the band members and their chaperones. Sentencing details have not yet been announced.