STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (7News) — The driver involved in a fatal chain reaction crash on Interstate 95 faces additional charges following the incident that resulted in five deaths and numerous injuries on Friday.
Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, now faces three additional counts of involuntary manslaughter and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving, adding to two previous involuntary manslaughter charges. According to authorities, Dong was cited for speeding in Maryland earlier this year and had a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday.
The crash occurred around 1:20 a.m. when Dong was driving a coach charter bus southbound on Route 3 at Charles Hall Road, colliding with a queue of vehicles, including a Chevrolet Suburban, which was pushed into other cars. The bus, operated by E&P Travel, was en route from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Virginia State Police confirmed that five individuals, including two children, died in the incident, and approximately 44 people, three critically injured, were transported to local hospitals. Mary Washington Healthcare reported that 19 patients were received from the crash, with most discharged, though one remains in critical condition.
Dong, who sustained injuries in the crash, is in the hospital but remains in custody of Rappahannock Regional Jail. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, focusing on driver actions, vehicle condition, and traffic factors. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
Authorities are seeking video evidence and witness statements to further their investigation.