Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter following a Friday crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia. The Virginia State Police said additional charges are pending against Dong, who was also injured in the crash. The accident, which occurred around 2:35 a.m. south of Washington, D.C., involved a bus and multiple vehicles.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board and police, traffic slowed for a work zone when the bus, en route from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, struck a Chevrolet Suburban. The Suburban was then forced into an Acura SUV and nearby vehicles. The Acura subsequently caught fire. There were approximately 34 passengers on the bus.
Four of the five fatalities were occupants of the Acura: 45-year-old Dmitri Doncev, 44-year-old Ecaterina Doncev, a 13-year-old girl, Emily Doncev, and a 7-year-old boy, Mark Doncev, all from Greenfield, Massachusetts. The fifth victim, 25-year-old Priscilla R. Mafalda, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was in the Suburban. Forty-four people were hospitalized, including three with critical injuries. The family emigrated from Moldova in 2008.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman said the bus was moving at a high rate of speed. Investigators are seeking to determine if the driver did any braking before the accident. The federal agency is examining driver factors such as fatigue, impairment, qualifications, and medical events, as well as highway factors, including work zone designs and speed limit signs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said federal investigators are reviewing Dong's commercial driver's license and training records. Duffy stated on social media that Dong, a native of China, does not speak English and received his commercial driver's license from New York State in 2024.
The bus was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The company, incorporated in November 2023 by Shuo Liu, operates four vehicles and has 11 drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported only one injury accident involving the company's vehicles in the previous two years and listed its safety rating as satisfactory. The crash initially closed all lanes of I-95, causing significant delays. All lanes have since reopened. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about interstate passenger bus safety.
Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter following a Friday crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia. The Virginia State Police said additional charges are pending against Dong, who was also injured in the crash. The accident, which occurred around 2:35 a.m. south of Washington, D.C., involved a bus and multiple vehicles.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board and police, traffic slowed for a work zone when the bus, en route from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, struck a Chevrolet Suburban. The Suburban was then forced into an Acura SUV and nearby vehicles. The Acura subsequently caught fire. There were approximately 34 passengers on the bus.
Four of the five fatalities were occupants of the Acura: 45-year-old Dmitri Doncev, 44-year-old Ecaterina Doncev, a 13-year-old girl, Emily Doncev, and a 7-year-old boy, Mark Doncev, all from Greenfield, Massachusetts. The fifth victim, 25-year-old Priscilla R. Mafalda, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was in the Suburban. Forty-four people were hospitalized, including three with critical injuries.
The Doncev family was traveling to a wedding in South Carolina with homemade desserts. Carolina Bublik, a relative, said the wedding will proceed, but will also serve as a memorial for the family. Dmitri Doncev was a nurse at Holyoke Medical Center, and Ecaterina Doncev was a hairstylist. The family emigrated from Moldova in 2008.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman said the bus was moving at a high rate of speed. Investigators are seeking to determine if the driver did any braking before the accident. The federal agency is examining driver factors such as fatigue, impairment, qualifications, and medical events, as well as highway factors, including work zone designs and speed limit signs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said federal investigators are reviewing Dong's commercial driver's license and training records. Duffy stated on social media that Dong, a native of China, does not speak English and received his commercial driver's license from New York State in 2024.
The bus was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The company, incorporated in November 2023 by Shuo Liu, operates four vehicles and has 11 drivers. The FMCSA listed the company's safety rating as "satisfactory." The crash initially closed all lanes of I-95, causing significant delays. All lanes have since reopened. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about interstate passenger bus safety.
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