By May 30, 2026 / 6:32 PM EDT / CBS News

A bus accident on a Virginia highway early Friday claimed five lives and injured nearly four dozen people. Virginia State Police announced charges against the driver, Jing S. Dong, 48, from Staten Island, New York. He faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with more charges expected.

The bus, unable to slow down for traffic, collided with six vehicles on Interstate 95 in Stafford County around 2:35 a.m. Eastern Time. It first hit a Chevrolet Suburban, which then struck an Acura SUV and additional vehicles. This chain reaction resulted in fatalities, including four in the Acura and one in the Suburban.

The Acura caught fire following the crash, killing a family of four from Greenfield, Massachusetts. They were on their way to a wedding in South Carolina.

State police identified the victims from the Acura as Dmitri Doncev, his wife Ecterina, their daughter Emily, aged 13, and son Mark, aged 7. Priscilla Mafalda, 25, from Worcester, Massachusetts, was the victim from the Suburban.

Forty-four individuals sustained injuries, with three in critical condition. At the time of the collision, 34 passengers were on the bus.

Initial inquiries revealed that traffic on the southbound lane slowed near a work zone, but the bus did not reduce speed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting its investigation. E&P Travel of Kings Mountain, North Carolina operated the bus, transporting passengers from New York to North Carolina.

NTSB member Tom Chapman indicated a lack of substantial braking, considering the speed and violent nature of the crash. More details on the accident scene will emerge from an upcoming report within 30 days.

The investigation by state police and the NTSB focuses on Dong’s actions preceding the crash. Chapman stated, “One of the things that we do, as a matter of course, is we do a 72-hour look back to see what the driver’s activities were during the days leading up to the crash.” This includes examining potential concerns such as sleep deprivation, distractions, and substance use.