A bus driver has been charged with involuntary manslaughter following a pre-dawn chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County that killed five people, including a family of four, and injured dozens more.
The crash occurred around 2:35 a.m. Friday, May 29, on southbound I-95 at mile marker 146 near an active work zone. Virginia State Police said traffic had slowed and was diverted into the single open left lane due to the closure of the right and center lanes. An E&P Travel motor coach traveling from New York City to Charlotte, N.C., with approximately 34 passengers, failed to slow for the traffic queue and struck the rear of a Chevrolet Suburban. That impact pushed the Suburban into an Acura SUV and triggered collisions involving at least seven vehicles total.
Four members of a Greenfield, Massachusetts, family died in the Acura SUV, which caught fire after the collisions. They were identified as a 45-year-old male, a 44-year-old female, a 13-year-old female, and a 7-year-old male. The fifth victim was Priscilla R. Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, Massachusetts, who was in the Chevrolet Suburban. Approximately 44 patients were transported to area hospitals, with three reported in critical condition. The bus driver, Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, N.Y., was also injured.
Dong has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with additional charges pending as the investigation continues.
The National Transportation Safety Board launched a “go team” to the scene Friday afternoon. NTSB Board Member Tom Chapman, joined by Investigator-in-Charge Eric Gregson, expressed deep condolences during a briefing.
“We want to begin by extending our most sincere condolences to those impacted by this tragedy,” Chapman said. “On behalf of all of us at NTSB, we offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those impacted by this horrible tragedy. We are truly, truly sorry for your loss.”
The NTSB investigation is running parallel to the Virginia State Police probe. Gregson outlined the multi-disciplinary approach, with specialized teams examining:
– Human performance, including driver fatigue, impairment, qualifications, and medical factors
– Highway and work zone design, lighting, signage, and traffic queue management
– Vehicle factors, including mechanical condition, brakes, and possible automatic emergency braking systems
– Motor carrier operations and safety culture
– Survival factors and occupant protection
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, with a final report potentially taking 12 to 24 months.
Virginia State Police continue to investigate the sequence of events and the bus driver’s actions prior to the crash. NTSB officials noted they are actively seeking video footage or other witness information and have asked the public to email [email protected] with relevant details.
