STAFFORD, VA — Four members of a Massachusetts family were killed in Friday morning’s bus crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, as investigators continued to piece together how the wreck unfolded. The crash also left dozens of people injured and sent patients to area hospitals.
Officials identified the family as Dimitri Doncev, 45, his wife, Ecaterina Doncev, 44, and their children, Emily, 14, and Mark, 7. A fifth person, 25-year-old Priscilla R. Mafalda of Worcester, Massachusetts, also died.
How did the crash happen on Interstate 95?
Police said a bus struck multiple cars before overturning in the median. In one sequence described by authorities, the bus pushed a Chevrolet Suburban into the Doncev family’s Acura SUV, which then caught fire.
The family died inside the Acura. Officials did not immediately release a full account of why the bus lost control or the chain of events leading to the collision.
Who were the victims from Massachusetts?
The Doncevs were from Greenfield, Massachusetts, and family members said Dimitri worked as a nurse. Their niece, Carolina Bublik, described them as generous and deeply devoted to their faith and children.
Bublik said the family had immigrated to the United States from Moldova in 2008 and had built their lives in Massachusetts after settling there.
What were the Doncevs doing on the road?
Bublik said the family was traveling to a wedding in South Carolina when the crash happened. She said they chose to drive overnight so they could bring desserts prepared by Ecaterina and so Dimitri could avoid daytime traffic.
Relatives said the couple often drove at night because Dimitri worked night shifts and felt comfortable behind the wheel after dark.
What happens after the Stafford County crash?
Mary Washington Healthcare said 19 patients from the crash were taken to its hospitals, and by Sunday 16 had been discharged. Five remained under care, including one patient in critical condition, two in serious condition and two in fair condition.
The Doncev family’s loved ones were also raising money to help transport the remains back to Massachusetts and cover funeral expenses. Providence Christian Academy in Greenfield, where Emily and Mark attended, said the school community was grieving and asked for privacy for the family.
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