NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) — In a matter of days, the fate of a man who caused a deadly chain reaction crash on I-70 in 2023 will be determined.

Sixty-one-year-old Jacob McDonald is facing more than 31 years in prison if he is convicted on all felony charges. The crash killed six people, including students, a teacher, and chaperones with the Tuscarawas Valley High School band traveling to Columbus for a concert. 

However, the legal battles don’t end after this verdict. McDonald and more than a dozen other defendants are still facing civil lawsuits filed by the families of the victims. 

The criminal trial for McDonald took place this week in Licking County. He is charged with 6 felony counts for aggravated vehicular homicide, 9 felony counts of vehicular assault, and eleven misdemeanor charges. On Thursday, both parties gave their closing arguments to Judge David Branstool. McDonald opted for a bench trial so the judge will decide the verdict, not a jury.

Since the deadly crash, several families of the victims have filed wrongful death lawsuits. Others who lived but were seriously injured have filed personal injury suits. 

McDonald is one of more than a dozen defendants across these civil suits, which include Mid-State Systems Inc., the trucking company McDonald worked for, Lee Zazworsky, its President, FYDA Freightliner Columbus Inc., and more. 

The family of Shannon Wigfield is a plaintiff in one of the civil suits. Wigfield was in the silver Nissan Murano that McDonald’s freightliner truck first hit, which later crashed into the charter bus. 

The suit alleges wrongful death, negligence, and vicarious liability. Court records show there was a conference scheduled earlier this month to approve adding more parties to the case, but that conference was continued. Court documents say the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation revealed Drivewyze Inc. to be another alleged responsible party for preventing the crash.

The attorneys say the civil suits could take years to resolve.

The Licking County judge said he plans to announce a verdict in the criminal trial early next week.