STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — A bus driver charged in a fatal crash on I-95 that killed five people appeared in court on Wednesday.
Jing Sheng Dong, 48, from Staten Island, New York, faces five counts of involuntary manslaughter and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving related to the May 29 incident. Charges were divided between district and circuit court to expedite the trial process, according to Stafford Commonwealth's Attorney Eric Olsen.
Dong's attorney, Thad Furlong, acknowledged the case's unusual circumstances, emphasizing the need for a thorough review of all evidence, including video footage and approximately 2,000 photographs.
Authorities report that Dong failed to slow his bus as it approached a work zone on southbound I-95 early on May 29. The motorcoach, operated by E&P Travel Inc. of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, collided with over seven vehicles, resulting in a chain reaction crash. Among the deceased were Dmitri and Ecterina Doncev of Greenfield, Massachusetts, and their two children, alongside 25-year-old Priscilla R. Mafalda of Worcester, Massachusetts. About 44 individuals sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals.
Language proficiency has emerged as a concern; federal regulations mandate that commercial drivers understand English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that Dong, who obtained a commercial license in New York in 2024, does not speak English. During court proceedings, Dong utilized an interpreter but prefers to communicate in his native language.
In addition to the Stafford County charges, Dong has pending speeding violations in Maryland and Virginia.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating Dong's language proficiency as part of its review.