A motorcoach driver has been charged with involuntary manslaughter following a predawn collision on Interstate 95 that claimed five lives and sent more than 40 people to hospitals.
Jing S Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter with prosecutors indicating additional charges are likely. The crash occurred Friday morning around 2:35 a.m. near a work zone in Stafford County, Virginia, when Dong's bus failed to slow with traffic backing up ahead.
Federal investigators are examining speed, driver fatigue, and language proficiency as potential contributing factors. Dong does not speak English, according to investigators, and authorities noted minimal braking evidence before impact given the bus's velocity.
Among those killed was a family of four from Greenfield, Massachusetts. Dmitri Doncev, a nurse, his wife Ecaterina, a hairstylist, and their two children, Emily and Mark, were traveling to a wedding in South Carolina when the bus struck their Acura sedan. The family had spent days preparing homemade desserts for the celebration.
Dmitri's brother Iuri was traveling separately in another vehicle and became the first family member to reach their destination, where he learned the terrible news when Dmitri failed to arrive. "At some point, they ended up getting separated," said relative Carolina Bublik. "Dmitri said, 'You go ahead. I'll catch up later.' It was a big shock when Iuri arrived at the house. Dmitri should have arrived around the same time."
The Doncev family had emigrated from Moldova in 2008. The couple had become pillars in their community, known for their faith and generosity. A GoFundMe campaign created for funeral expenses surpassed its $50,000 goal by Sunday. The wedding went forward as planned, with guests balancing celebration with shared mourning.
Also killed was Priscilla Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, Massachusetts, who was traveling in the Chevrolet Suburban struck directly by the bus.
The E&P Travel bus was heading from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina. Virginia state police said the bus struck the Suburban, which then hit the Doncev family's vehicle in a chain reaction that injured 44 others.
Dong was hospitalized for his own injuries while held in police custody. A magistrate approved holding him without bond pending his first court appearance, which will occur after his hospital discharge.
Author James Rodriguez: "A preventable tragedy that raises hard questions about driver screening and highway safety oversight in the commercial bus industry."
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