Family of Four Killed in Virginia Bus Crash; Investigation Ongoing
STAFFORD, VA — A family from Massachusetts, identified as Dmitri and Ecaterina Doncev, along with their two children, died in a multi-vehicle collision involving a bus on Interstate 95 early Friday morning.
The crash occurred around 2:35 a.m. as vehicles slowed for a work zone. Authorities reported that a motorcoach struck a Chevrolet Suburban, which then collided with an Acura carrying the Doncev family. A third victim, identified as Priscilla Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was also killed.
Emergency responders treated several individuals for injuries, with one person in critical condition. Most have been discharged, according to Mary Washington Healthcare.
The driver of the bus, Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The Virginia State Police confirmed that additional charges are likely. It remains unclear if Dong is in custody or has legal representation.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an investigation into the incident. Preliminary reports from NTSB board member Tom Chapman indicate the bus was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash. “If there was any braking, there wasn't much,” Chapman stated.
E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, operated the bus. Federal investigations will also examine the driver's language proficiency, as Dong reportedly does not speak English.
Dmitri Doncev, 45, worked as a nurse at Holyoke Medical Center, while 44-year-old Ecaterina Doncev was a hairstylist who prepared homemade desserts for a family wedding planned for Sunday in South Carolina. The family had emigrated from Moldova in 2008.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.