STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A bus crashed into vehicles slowing for a work zone on southbound Interstate 95 early Friday, killing five people and injuring dozens more in Stafford County. State police said the collision happened near Quantico at about 2:35 a.m. and involved six vehicles struck by the bus.
Authorities said 44 people were taken to hospitals, including three in critical condition. The driver was among those injured, and police said the bus carried approximately 34 passengers.
What do investigators say happened on I-95?
Virginia State Police said preliminary findings indicate traffic was slowing ahead of an upcoming work zone when the bus failed to reduce speed. The vehicle then struck six cars and trucks in the southbound lanes.
The southbound lanes reopened by noon, but a state transportation advisory said traffic remained backed up for a couple of miles after the crash.
Who were the people killed in the crash?
Four of the five fatalities were in one car that caught fire, according to state police. The victims were identified as a 45-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, all from Greenfield, Massachusetts.
A statement from Providence Christian Academy in Greenfield named them as Dmitri and Ecaterina Doncev and their children, Emily and Mark. The fifth victim was identified as 25-year-old Priscilla R. Mafalda of Worcester, Massachusetts, who was in an SUV struck by the bus.
What is known about the bus driver and company?
State police identified the bus driver as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York. Authorities said charges were pending after the crash, and on May 30 they said the driver had been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with additional charges likely.
The bus was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Federal records showed the company had one injury crash in the previous two years, a satisfactory safety rating, four vehicles and 11 drivers.
What happens next in the investigation?
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a go-team to investigate the crash and planned to have a spokesperson at the scene. Mary Washington Healthcare said it received 19 patients, with seven taken to its trauma center in Fredericksburg and 12 taken to its Stafford hospital.
Federal records and past safety reviews show passenger bus crashes have long been a concern, especially when driver-related factors such as fatigue, medical issues and inattention are involved. Investigators have not said yet what caused this crash.
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