STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (7News) — A motorcoach bus crashed into slowing traffic on Interstate 95 early Sunday morning, resulting in five fatalities and numerous injuries.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:35 a.m. on May 29, on I-95 southbound near mile marker 146, just south of the Quantico exit. The crash involved a motorcoach operated by E&P Travel and several vehicles, including a Chevrolet Suburban and an Acura SUV.
The Virginia State Police (VSP) confirmed that five individuals died, including two children. Authorities reported a total of 44 injuries, with three requiring critical medical attention. The victims comprised a family from Greenfield, Massachusetts, traveling in the Acura SUV, including a 45-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl, and a 7-year-old boy. The fifth victim, 25-year-old Priscilla R. Mafalda, was in the Suburban.
The motorcoach was transporting 34 passengers from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina. The driver, Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, N.Y., sustained injuries and has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with potential for additional charges. He was arrested and is being held without bond.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an investigation, focusing on driver actions, vehicle condition, and work zone design. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
Emergency responders transported injured individuals to local hospitals, with 19 patients admitted across Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital. As of Saturday afternoon, four remain hospitalized, including one in critical condition.
Authorities continue to evaluate the events surrounding this tragic incident.