NTSB Now Suggests Driver Monitoring After Horrific Crash

Fatal I-70 Crash in Ohio Prompts NTSB Safety Recommendations

NTSB Report on I-70 Crash Near Etna

A deadly crash on Interstate 70 in Etna, Ohio, has led to new safety steps from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). On November 14, 2023, a truck owned by Mid-State Systems, Inc. failed to slow for traffic backed up from an earlier minor crash. The truck was moving about 72 mph when it hit vehicles ahead.

The crash set off a chain reaction. Two passenger vehicles, a motorcoach carrying school children, and another truck were struck. A fire spread after the impact. Six people died—three students on the motorcoach and three people in a passenger vehicle. Four others were seriously hurt. Another 37 had minor injuries, and 15 walked away without harm.

Crash Linked to Driver Inattention and Traffic Queues

The NTSB found that the truck driver did not react to the slowed traffic. Brake lights and other warning signs were visible, but the driver did not take evasive action. The cause of the inattention remains unknown.

The report also highlighted weaknesses in traffic management. A minor crash earlier in the morning had been cleared, but it left behind a traffic backup. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) was not contacted. That meant no alerts or variable speed limits were in place to warn approaching drivers.

NTSB Calls for Truck Driver Monitoring and Safety Tech

The Freightliner Cascadia truck was not equipped with collision avoidance technology or truck driver monitoring systems. Both were available options but had not been installed. According to the NTSB, these tools could have warned the driver about the slowdown or even applied the brakes to lessen the crash.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said, “We’ve seen this crash scenario far too often—and it’s preventable. Proven technologies can warn drivers of slowed traffic and prevent collisions before they happen. What’s needed are stronger vehicle safety standards, better traffic incident management, and swift action on our recommendations. Lives depend on it.”

Report Highlights Fire and Bus Safety Gaps

The post-crash fire made the tragedy worse. It began under the truck and quickly spread to the motorcoach. Smoke and flames slowed evacuation and kept rescuers from reaching two students until the fire was put out.

The motorcoach was built in 2009. At that time, buses were not required to have lap/shoulder belts for passengers. None were available to the students on board. The NTSB also discovered improper exit markings and confusing latch instructions on emergency windows. These errors added to the chaos during evacuation.

NTSB Recommendations After the I-70 Crash

Following the investigation, the NTSB issued eight new safety recommendations and repeated two earlier ones. These were directed at federal agencies, state agencies, industry groups, and the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District.

Key recommendations include:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): Improve rules for handling traffic backups. Ensure communication between responders and transportation agencies after every incident that causes a queue. Revise the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Update the “Proven Safety Countermeasures” list to include in-cab alerts, queue warning trucks, and dynamic signs.

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Require truck driver monitoring systems in all commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds. Develop standards for forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Adopt stronger fire safety standards for motorcoach interiors.

• Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT): Create a statewide plan to use variable speed limits when queues form.

• Industry Associations (ATA, OOIDA, ABA, UMA, ATU, Teamsters): Promote collision avoidance systems, truck driver monitoring, and in-cab alerts among their members.

• Tuscarawas Valley Local School District: Update chartering procedures to select motorcoach operators that provide lap/shoulder belts for all passengers and require their use.

NTSB Emphasizes Broader Safety Lessons

The NTSB stressed that inattention and missing technology remain major risks on highways. Stronger safety standards and wider use of truck driver monitoring technology could help prevent similar tragedies.

The fire also showed the need for tougher rules on bus interiors and the benefits of seat belts for students. The NTSB urged school districts and charter services to choose carriers with the latest safety features.

NTSB Says Crash Was Preventable

The NTSB concluded that the I-70 crash was preventable. The driver’s failure to respond was the direct cause, but weak traffic management, missing truck safety technology, and poor fire protection worsened the outcome.

The board called for quick action on its recommendations. Its report warned that unless changes are made, similar crashes could happen again.

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