LICKING COUNTY — Federal investigators say that the investigation into a fiery bus crash that killed six people, including three students, in Ohio could take over a year to complete.
On Wednesday, Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said the investigation into Tuesday’s crash on Interstate 70 in Licking County is expected to take 12-18 months to finish. She also said a preliminary report is expected to be released in 2-3 weeks.
>> PHOTOS: 6 killed, over a dozen injured in fiery I-70 crash in Ohio
As News Center 7′s Mike Campbell reported at 5 p.m., drivers on I-70 rolled over the new pavement in some spots of the interstate Wednesday while investigators blocked off the right-hand lane to use 3D modeling and other technology that will help them recreate how the deadly crash happened.
“Our investigators will document the crash site, the vehicles and gather factual information, things like line vehicle inspections and drivers’ hours of service,” Homendy said Wednesday.
The agency arrived in Ohio Tuesday evening to investigate the crash involving five vehicles, a charter bus carrying students from Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools.
Three high school students on the bus and three people from one of the passenger vehicles involved in the crash died. The district confirmed Tuesday night that those three people were a teacher in the district and two parent chaperones.
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On Wednesday, Homendy walked through the different types of investigators that will be digging into this crash.
“Our goal at the end of any investigation is to issue safety recommendations that, if implemented, would prevent this tragedy from reoccurring,” Homendy said.
She said that at any point during the investigation, the agency could implement any safety recommendations they see fit.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol, which is assisting in the investigation, released new information about the vehicles involved in the crash and their drivers.
Two commercial vehicles were involved in the crash. The first, which belonged to Wapakoneta-based G.A. Wintzer & Sons and was driven by Brandon Marchal, 37, also of Wapakoneta, was hit in the crash. The other, which caught on fire, belonged to Hebron-based Mid-State Systems and was driven by Jacob McDonald, 60, of Zanesville.
The bus belonged to Pioneer Trails and was driven by Donald Wagler, 65, of Hartville.
Two passenger vehicles, which the NTSB said were SUVs, were also involved. One that was hit was driven by Robert Wolverton, 75, of Heath. Information about the other was not provided, but as News Center 7 previously reported, it was carrying members of the district traveling with the bus.
>> ORIGINAL REPORT: 3 students, 3 others dead after fiery bus crash on I-70 in Ohio
Troopers said all drivers were injured in the crash, in addition to the 15 students who were injured on the bus.
“Yesterday was a day of true sadness that will live in the hearts of many Ohioans forever,” Colonel Charles Jones, Superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said at Wednesday’s press conference.
Campbell caught up with Governor Mike DeWine before the NTSB’s press conference on Wednesday. He said the best he can do is try and provide some answers.
“I can tell the parents of the children, I’ve been where they’ve been where they are,” DeWine said.