STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (7News) — A motorcoach bus collided with slowed traffic near a work zone on Interstate 95, resulting in five fatalities and multiple injuries early Friday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:35 a.m. on May 29, 2026, southbound at mile marker 146, roughly two miles south of the Quantico exit. Authorities confirmed that at least eight vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash.
The bus, operated by E&P Travel, was traveling from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, when it struck a Chevrolet Suburban, pushing it into an Acura SUV and causing further collisions. The bus carried around 34 passengers at the time of the crash.
Victims included four members from a family traveling in the Acura: a 45-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl, and a 7-year-old boy, all from Greenfield, Massachusetts. The fifth fatality, identified as Priscilla R. Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was in the Suburban. The Acura subsequently caught fire.
A total of 44 individuals were injured, with three sustaining critical injuries. Emergency responders transported them to nearby hospitals, including Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital, where 15 patients have since been released.
Virginia State Police (VSP) are leading the investigation in collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
The bus driver, Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, suffered injuries and has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. He is currently hospitalized and remains in custody, with bond denied pending further court appearances.
The NTSB investigation will examine various factors, including driver actions, vehicle condition, and potential fatigue.