Tragic Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-95 Claims Five Lives
A passenger bus traveling from New York City to Charlotte failed to slow for a work zone, triggering a chain-reaction collision that killed five people and injured dozens more.
Incident Timeline and Mechanism
The crash occurred at approximately 2:35 a.m. Eastern Time on the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near mile marker 146, roughly two miles south of Exit 148 for Quantico in Stafford County, Virginia.
According to Virginia State Police, a motorcoach bus operated by E&P Travel Inc. was en route from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina. Traffic in the southbound lanes was slowing for an upcoming work zone. The bus failed to reduce its speed and struck a Chevrolet Suburban, forcing it into an Acura SUV and other vehicles. The Acura caught fire following the collision. In total, six vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash.
Casualties and Injuries
Five occupants of the vehicles struck by the bus were killed. All five deceased individuals were in the Suburban and the Acura:
The Acura Occupants
- Dmitri Doncev (45)
- Ecaterina Doncev (44)
- Emily Doncev (13)
- Mark Doncev (7)
All from Greenfield, Massachusetts. Reports indicate the family was traveling to a wedding in South Carolina.
The Chevrolet Suburban Occupant
- Priscilla R. Mafalda (25), of Worcester, Massachusetts.
A total of 44 people were transported to area hospitals, including three reported to be in critical condition. One of the injured was transported by helicopter. The bus driver was also injured and hospitalized.
Driver and Legal Proceedings
The bus driver, Jing S. Dong (48), of Staten Island, New York, was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.
Dong has been charged in connection with the crash. Initial charges included two counts of involuntary manslaughter. He was subsequently indicted by a grand jury in Stafford County Circuit Court on five counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving. He was served with warrants while hospitalized and ordered held without bond. He is scheduled to be transferred to Rappahannock Regional Jail upon his release from the hospital.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has sent a team to investigate. NTSB board member Tom Chapman stated that preliminary evidence indicates the bus was traveling at a high rate of speed with little evidence of braking prior to impact. Speed is considered a contributing factor to the driver failing to slow for the work zone.
Investigators have stated that Dong's language proficiency will be part of the investigation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the driver does not speak English. Dong originally immigrated from China and became a U.S. citizen. He received his commercial driver's license from New York State in 2024.
A preliminary report from the NTSB is expected within 30 days.
Driver's Driving Record
Court records indicate Dong had prior speeding violations:
- On March 9, 2026, he was cited for driving 72 mph in a 50 mph zone on Route 3 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. A trial date was scheduled.
- In November 2024, he was charged with driving 73 mph in a 55 mph zone in Colonial Heights, Virginia, and paid $219 in fines and costs.
Bus Operator Information
The bus was operated by E&P Travel Inc., a company based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the company held a satisfactory safety rating. Records indicate one prior injury crash involving its vehicles in the previous two years.
Aftermath and Traffic Impact
The crash resulted in the closure of all southbound lanes of I-95 for an extended period. The Virginia Department of Transportation advised travelers to use alternate routes such as Route 301 or Route 29. All southbound lanes were reopened shortly before noon.
A GoFundMe campaign established for the funeral expenses of the Doncev family exceeded its $50,000 goal. According to reports, the wedding the family was traveling to attend proceeded as scheduled on Sunday.