The company behind the recent deadly bus crash in Virginia has links to a network of travel firms, some of which have faced regulatory shutdowns for safety violations in the past, according to a CBS News investigation.

On May 29, an E&P Travel Inc. bus collided with stopped traffic at a work zone on I-95 in Stafford County, Virginia, resulting in five fatalities and multiple injuries. This incident is not isolated, as a similar crash occurred in 2024 involving E&P Travel in North Carolina.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating potential connections between E&P Travel Inc. and over a dozen bus companies in the Northeast. Rob Carpenter, a safety consultant, pointed out that companies often hide their identities to avoid scrutiny. These operators are referred to as chameleon carriers and number at least 10,000 across the U.S.

Sean Duffy from the U.S. Department of Transportation stated they’ll scrutinize all entities involved in enabling unqualified drivers. E&P Travel has faced multiple speeding citations and an English language proficiency violation, yet it received a “satisfactory” safety rating by the FMCSA in April.

The bus driver involved in the recent crash, Jing S. Dong, is charged with five counts of involuntary manslaughter. Dong resides in Staten Island, New York.

E&P Travel was incorporated in North Carolina in 2023, with headquarters listed in Kings Mountain and Shuo Liu as CEO. Attempts to reach Liu have not been successful. Company filings list Joyce Gao as an officer, who is also involved in another company, Super Bus Inc., led by Ronghai Gao.

Ronghai Gao identified himself as the CEO of Super Bus, stating Joyce Gao was previously a bookkeeper there. He declined further personal questions. Super Bus also holds a “satisfactory” safety rating despite recent violations.

Pandora Travel Inc., a firm tied to both Gaos, was shut down in 2017 due to regulatory violations and non-compliance. This company was previously based in Massachusetts and New York, with history of unsafe practices like excessive speeding.

The FMCSA found Pandora’s drivers often ignored speed limits, which led to incidents like a 2014 rollover crash in New Jersey. In the same year, FMCSA officers found Pandora’s headquarters deserted.

Federal regulators had allowed Pandora Travel to continue operations under strict conditions until its permanent closure in 2017. The company had engaged in practices to conceal regulatory noncompliance, according to FMCSA.