STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — The catastrophic chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County that killed five people, including a family of four and a 25-year-old woman, has intensified scrutiny on the bus driver’s prior speeding violations and potential gaps in commercial driver licensing and charter bus industry oversight.

The crash occurred around 2:35 a.m. on May 29, 2026, when a charter bus operated by EP Travel failed to slow for traffic queuing near a work zone on southbound I-95. The bus slammed into the rear of a Chevrolet Suburban, which then struck an Acura SUV and triggered additional collisions involving multiple vehicles.

Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, the bus driver, has been charged with multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving. He remains hospitalized from injuries sustained in the crash.

Driver’s Prior Record

Court records reveal Dong had a history of speeding citations, including:

• A March 2026 citation in Maryland for driving 72 mph in a 50 mph zone while operating a charter bus.
• A previous conviction in Virginia for driving 73 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Experts and lawmakers are questioning how a driver with this record was allowed behind the wheel of a passenger bus carrying dozens of people.

Victims

The five killed were all from Massachusetts:

• Dimitri Donchev, 45; Ekaterina Donchev, 44; their children Emily, 13, and Mark, 7 — a family of four traveling to a wedding in South Carolina.
• Priscilla Ramos Mafalda, 25, of Worcester.

Dozens more were injured, with many hospitalized in the days following the crash. The Donchev family were members of the Providence Christian Academy community.

Ongoing Investigations

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, examining factors including driver fatigue, speed, possible language barriers affecting situational awareness, and the bus company’s hiring and safety practices. The bus company reportedly had a prior similar collision.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and others have publicly raised concerns about commercial driver qualifications and enforcement of safety regulations for charter operators.

This tragedy has renewed calls for stricter federal oversight of interstate bus operations, better enforcement of CDL standards, and improved work zone safety on major highways like I-95.

The investigation remains active, with additional charges possible against Dong and potential civil actions against the bus company. Our thoughts remain with the families of the victims during this devastating time.