A 13-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy are among the five individuals who lost their lives following a devastating bus crash on a Virginia highway. The incident occurred early Friday morning when a bus collided with other vehicles that were slowing down for a work zone on Interstate 95.
Details of the crash
The collision took place at approximately 2:35 a.m. on the southbound lanes of I-95 in Stafford County, near Quantico. According to Virginia State Police, four of the deceased were occupants of a single car that erupted in flames after the impact. The victims from that vehicle have been identified as a 45-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl, and a seven-year-old boy, all hailing from Greenfield, Massachusetts. The fifth fatality was a 25-year-old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts, who was driving an SUV struck by the bus.
In total, 44 people were transported to hospitals, with three listed in critical condition. The bus driver, Jing S Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, is currently under investigation and may face charges. Police stated that the bus failed to slow down for the work zone and struck six vehicles. The bus was carrying approximately 34 passengers.
Driver's background and reactions
Authorities revealed that Dong is an American citizen who emigrated from China but does not speak English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the licensing process, noting that Dong obtained his commercial driver's license from New York State in 2024. Duffy remarked, 'If you can't be properly trained, read our road signs, or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus.'
Mary Washington Healthcare reported receiving 19 patients from the crash. Seven were taken to its trauma center in Fredericksburg, where four were discharged and three remained—one in serious condition and two in critical condition. Twelve patients were treated at its Stafford hospital and later discharged in good condition.
Investigation and safety concerns
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a 'go-team' to conduct a safety investigation into the crash. The southbound lanes of I-95 reopened by noon, but traffic remained backed up for several miles.
The bus was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records show only one injury accident involving the company's vehicles in the past two years, with a safety rating of 'satisfactory.' The company was incorporated on November 24, 2023, by Shuo Liu, who also serves as the registered agent. The FMCSA site indicates the company operates four vehicles and employs 11 drivers.
Friday's crash reignites longstanding concerns over interstate passenger bus safety. Following a series of fatal bus crashes in 2008 that claimed 41 lives, the U.S. Department of Transportation implemented a Motorcoach Safety Action Plan. An NTSB investigation of 16 fatal motorcoach crashes between June 1998 and January 2008 found that driver-related issues—such as fatigue, medical conditions, and inattention—accounted for 56% of accidents and 60% of fatalities. Recommended actions included a pre-employment driver history screening program and a national drug- and alcohol-testing database to help motorcoach operators identify drivers with a history of violating DOT rules.
