A bus driver allegedly unable to speak English crashed into stopped traffic on Interstate 95 in Virginia early Friday, killing five people including two children.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said federal investigators are examining how the driver was permitted to operate a commercial passenger vehicle despite reportedly lacking English-language skills required under federal transportation rules.
“Unacceptable,” Duffy wrote on X. “This is exactly why we are holding states’ accountable, enforcing the rules of the road, and cracking down on drivers who can’t speak English.”
The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County near Quantico after traffic slowed for a work zone. Authorities reported that the motorcoach failed to brake before slamming into stopped vehicles, causing a Chevrolet Suburban to push into an Acura that burst into flames. Six vehicles were involved in the crash, and 44 people were transported to hospitals.
Officials identified the driver as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York. Dong, a Chinese-born U.S. citizen, reportedly obtained his commercial driver’s license in New York in 2024. Dong was injured in the crash and charges are pending.
Among those killed were a 13-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. Four victims were members of the Doncev family from Greenfield, Massachusetts: Dmitri Doncev, 45, his wife Ecaterina, 44, and their children Emily and Mark. The fifth victim was a 25-year-old woman from Worcester who was riding in the Chevrolet Suburban.
Duffy said federal investigators are now reviewing Dong’s driving history, training records, and licensing documentation from New York state. “Any company, trainer, or school that contributed to putting an unqualified driver on the road will face intense scrutiny,” Duffy wrote.
Federal regulations updated last year require inspectors to immediately remove commercial drivers from service if they cannot communicate in English. The tougher enforcement standards replaced an earlier system that relied primarily on citations.
