STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — The driver of a motorcoach involved in a deadly crash on Interstate 95 in Virginia has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, authorities said.
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Investigators say the bus crashed into multiple vehicles, causing a chain reaction that killed a family of four on their way to a wedding and a woman traveling in separate vehicle.
Virginia State Police said 48-year-old Jing S. Dong of Staten Island, New York, was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter following the crash in Stafford County. Prosecutors said additional charges are likely.
The crash happened before dawn Friday in the southbound lane, where traffic had slowed in an approach to a work zone, according to investigators.
Police said the bus did not slow down and struck a Chevrolet Suburban, triggering a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles.
The Suburban was pushed into an Acura SUV carrying a family from Greenfield, Massachusetts. The Acura later caught fire, authorities said.
The four members of the Doncev family who died in the crash were identified as 45-year-old Dimitri, 44-year-old Ecaterina, and the couple’s two children, 13-year-old Emily and 7-year-old Mark.
Police also identified another victim as 25-year-old Priscilla Mafalda of Worcester, Massachusetts, who was inside the Chevrolet Suburban.
Authorities said the Doncev family was traveling to a wedding in South Carolina.
The Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office said Dong was operating the bus in a “criminally negligent manner.” Prosecutors said a magistrate approved holding Dong without bond while he receives treatment for injuries suffered in the crash.
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His first court appearance will take place after he is discharged from the hospital, prosecutors said.
The bus was operated by E&P Travel Inc., a North Carolina-based company running an overnight trip from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina.
The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the crash. NTSB board member Tom Chapman said investigators believe the bus was traveling at a high rate of speed before impact.
“It seems fairly clear that if there was any braking, it wasn’t much because of the speed and the severity of the collision, but too early yet to know exactly what was happening onboard the vehicle,” Chapman said.
Investigators are also reviewing the driver’s activities in the days leading up to the crash, including possible fatigue, distraction, and other factors, the NTSB said.
Court records reviewed by WUSA9 show Dong was previously scheduled for a Maryland traffic court hearing related to allegations he was driving 22 mph over the speed limit while operating a white coach bus in March.
Authorities said 44 people were injured in Friday’s crash. As of Saturday, four people remained hospitalized, including one person in critical condition.
The NTSB said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a final report could take up to two years.
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