A bus driven by a Chinese national who does not speak English plowed into stopped vehicles in Virginia on Friday, killing five people and injuring dozens.
Police reported the incident occurred at approximately 2:35 a.m. when an E&P Travel bus carrying travelers from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, struck cars that had slowed for a construction zone. The collision propelled one vehicle into others.
The driver, identified as Jing S. Dong, was 48 years old and sustained injuries in the crash. According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, an investigation revealed Dong is a Chinese national who became a U.S. citizen but does not speak English. He obtained his commercial driver’s license from New York State in 2024.
“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,” Duffy stated.
The crash left 44 people transported to hospitals in Fredericksburg and Stafford, Virginia, with three having critical injuries. Federal Transit Administration spokesperson Peyton Vogel described the incident as “one of the most tragic things I’ve ever seen. Absolutely tragic.”
Investigations found Dong’s bus was traveling on a route that included a construction zone where traffic slowed. The crash closed the I-95 south lane for about four hours. Transportation Secretary Duffy vowed any company, trainer, or school involved in hiring Dong would face “intense scrutiny” over the incident.
