STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (7News) — A motorcoach bus collided with slowed traffic in a work zone on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, early Friday morning, resulting in five fatalities and numerous injuries.
The crash occurred around 2:35 a.m. on May 29, near mile marker 146, approximately two miles south of the Quantico exit. The bus, operated by E&P Travel, was traveling from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, when it struck a Chevrolet Suburban, triggering a multi-vehicle accident involving at least eight vehicles.
According to authorities, five people were killed, including two children, and 44 others were transported to hospitals; three of them with critical injuries. The victims in the Acura, which caught fire, were identified as a 45-year-old male, a 44-year-old female, a 13-year-old female, and a seven-year-old male, all from Greenfield, Massachusetts. The fifth victim, Priscilla R. Mafalda, 25, from Worcester, Massachusetts, was a passenger in the Suburban.
The driver of the bus, Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, sustained injuries and has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with additional charges anticipated. He was arrested while hospitalized and is being held without bond pending court proceedings.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Virginia State Police (VSP) are investigating the incident. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a final report may take up to 24 months.
Mary Washington Healthcare reported treating 19 patients; 15 have been released, while four remain in various conditions at the trauma center.
The investigation will examine driver actions, vehicle condition, and potential fatigue factors, according to NTSB officials.