STAFFORD, VA — The driver of a tour bus involved in a deadly chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 in Virginia has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, state police said. Five people died and 44 others were hospitalized after the wreck Friday morning.
Authorities say the bus was traveling south when traffic slowed for a work zone and the vehicle kept moving into the back of a Chevrolet Suburban, setting off a multi-vehicle collision.
What did investigators say happened on I-95?
The crash began around 2:35 a.m. Friday on I-95 south in Stafford County, about 45 miles south of Washington, D.C. Police and federal investigators said the bus struck the Suburban and pushed it into an Acura SUV and other vehicles.
The commonwealth’s attorney said at least eight vehicles were involved. The Acura caught fire, adding to the severity of the crash scene.
Who was charged in the crash?
Virginia State Police identified the driver as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York. He was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with additional charges still possible, officials said.
Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen said he believed probable cause existed to show the bus driver caused the crash while operating in a criminally negligent manner. Officials said Dong remains hospitalized and will be held without bond pending a court appearance.
Who were the victims and how many were hurt?
Four of the people who died were in the Acura: 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, police said. The fifth person killed was Priscilla R. Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, Massachusetts, who was in the Suburban.
Forty-four people were taken to hospitals, including three who were listed in critical condition. Police said the bus was carrying about 34 people at the time of the crash.
What happens next in the investigation?
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is still reviewing possible causes, including impairment, fatigue, mechanical issues, medical events and road design factors in the work zone. Investigators are also looking for any video that may help explain whether the driver braked before impact.
Federal officials said they are reviewing Dong’s commercial driver’s license and training records. The crash closed all lanes of I-95 for hours before traffic reopened.
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