5 killed in Virginia charter bus crash identified, driver charged with manslaughter
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A charter bus driver has been charged for allegedly causing a fatal crash in Virginia that left five people dead.
Jing S. Dong, a Staten Island, New York-based driver and non-English speaking Chinese national who obtained his commercial license in 2024, has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and additional charges are pending, Virginia State Police said Saturday.
Dong allegedly hit an SUV in front of an E&P Travel bus in the southbound lane of Interstate 95, causing the driver to crash into another vehicle around 2:35 a.m. Friday in Stafford County.
The young girl and boy in the car in front of the vehicle that was hit by the bus died along with their parents when their vehicle caught fire.
VIRGINIA MAGAZINE EDITOR (23) WAS KILLED AFTER HIT-RUN DURING CROSSING THE STREET
The Massachusetts family who died in the accident was identified as 45-year-old Dmitri Doncev, 44-year-old wife Ecterina, 13-year-old daughter Emily and 7-year-old son Mark, living in Greenfield. (GoFundMe)
A woman who was in the SUV right in front of the bus also died.
The family was identified as 45-year-old Dmitri Doncev, 44-year-old wife Ecterina, 13-year-old daughter Emily and 7-year-old son Mark, living in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Police said that 5 people died in a traffic accident that occurred when the bus did not stop. (Virginia State Police)
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE MAYOR OF KÜÇÜK KASAVİRGİNYA WAS ARRESTED ON THE ALLEGATION OF PRESENTING DRUNK TO GET OUT OF THE TRAIN.
The woman was identified as Priscilla R. Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, Massachusetts.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that traffic slowed southbound toward the upcoming work zone. A bus operated by E&P Travel, traveling from New York City to Charlotte, NC, failed to slow down due to traffic and struck a Chevrolet Suburban,” police said in a news release. he said. “The Suburban was then forced into an Acura SUV, as well as additional vehicles. The bus also crashed into other vehicles.”
Dozens of people were taken to hospitals after the accident. (Virginia State Police)
On Friday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that Dong was a naturalized U.S. citizen from China and did not speak English, a violation of federal regulations for bus drivers who must be able to speak and understand well enough to do their jobs safely.
State police at the scene of the accident (Virginia State Police)
“Unacceptable. That’s exactly why we hold states accountable, enforce traffic rules, and crack down on drivers who don’t speak English,” Duffy wrote to X. “If you can’t be properly trained, read our road signs, or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus.”
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Duffy added that the Department of Transportation was “looking into New York license records, education credentials and the driver’s background.” “Any company, trainer or school that contributes to an unqualified driver being put on the roads will face intense scrutiny.”
