The Crash and Casualties
A bus operated by E&P Travel failed to slow for traffic near a work zone on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, striking six vehicles and killing five people early Friday at approximately 2:35 a.m. The bus, heading from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, collided first with a Chevrolet Suburban, which then struck an Acura SUV and additional vehicles. Four people died in the Acura, which caught fire after impact. A fifth victim, a 25-year-old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts, was killed in the Suburban.
The four fatalities in the Acura were 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. They were identified as Dmitri Doncev, his wife Ecaterina, their daughter Emily, and son Mark. The family was traveling to a wedding in South Carolina. Providence Christian Academy, where the children attended school, released a statement saying the Doncev family "was a cherished part of our school community, and their loss is being felt deeply by our students, families, faculty, and staff."
The family issued their own statement to CBS News Boston: "Today, words cannot adequately express the pain and sorrow felt by their family, friends, church community, coworkers, classmates, and all who had the privilege of knowing them. Their absence leaves a void that can never be filled, but their memories, their love, and the countless lives they touched will remain forever in our hearts."
Injuries and Hospital Response
Forty-four people were taken to hospitals following the crash. Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg received seven patients, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition. One patient was treated and released. Multiple patients had life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery. Stafford Hospital received 12 patients, all of whom were treated and released in good condition.
The bus driver, 48-year-old Jing S. Dong of Staten Island, New York, was also injured in the crash. Peyton Vogel, a Federal Transit Administration spokesperson on the scene, told the Associated Press: "I've got to say, this is one of the most tragic things I've ever seen. Absolutely tragic."
The Driver and Pending Investigation
Virginia State Police identified Dong as the bus operator and said charges are pending against him. Investigators are examining the bus driver's actions prior to the crash. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on social media that Dong is a naturalized citizen originally from China. According to Duffy, Dong received his commercial driver's license in New York two years ago.
Duffy called the situation "unacceptable" and noted that Dong does not speak English. "If you can't be properly trained, read our road signs, or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus," Duffy wrote on X. He announced that the Transportation Department is investigating "New York licensing records, training documentation, and the driver's history. Any company, trainer, or school that contributed to putting an unqualified driver on the road will face intense scrutiny."
Federal regulations require commercial drivers to speak English well enough to do their job safely. In February, Duffy announced that all truckers and bus drivers would be required to take licensing tests in English.
Company Background and Safety Record
The company was incorporated on November 24, 2023, by Shuo Liu, who is also listed as the registered agent. E&P Travel Inc. is based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported the company operated four vehicles and had 11 drivers. A compliance snapshot showed only one injury accident involving the company's vehicles in the previous two years and listed its safety rating as "satisfactory."
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it was sending a team to conduct a safety investigation into the crash. The southbound lanes of Interstate 95 reopened by noon, though traffic remained backed up for several miles.
