Bus crashes into cars on Virginia interstate, killing 5 people, state police say
By — Erik Verduzco, Associated Press Erik Verduzco, Associated Press By — Allen G. Breed, Associated Press Allen G. Breed, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/bus-crashes-into-cars-on-virginia-interstate-killing-5-people-state-police-say Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Bus crashes into cars on Virginia interstate, killing 5 people, state police say Nation May 29, 2026 8:25 PM EDT A bus crashed into vehicles slowing for a work zone on Interstate 95 in Virginia early Friday, killing five people and injuring dozens, including the driver, authorities said. The crash happened at about 2:35 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County, near Quantico. All five of the people who died were in vehicles hit by the bus, and 44 people were taken to hospitals, including three in critical condition, police said. READ MORE: Tennessee school bus crash leaves 2 students dead, at least 7 others injured "The preliminary investigation indicates that traffic was slowing southbound for an upcoming work zone," state police said in a news release. "A bus failed to slow for traffic and struck six vehicles." Police said there were "approximately" 34 passengers on the bus. "We've got patients in multiple hospitals. We've got the driver at a hospital here," said Peyton Vogel, a Federal Transit Administration spokesperson who was on the scene. "I've got to say, this is one of the most tragic things I've ever seen. Absolutely tragic." Four of the fatalities were in one car, which caught fire. State police said the victims were a 45-year-old male, a 44-year-old female, a 13-year-old female and a 7-year-old male, all from Greenfield, Massachusetts. Their names were not released by police, but a statement from the school the children attended in Greenfield said they were Dmitri and Ecaterina Doncev and their daughter, Emily, and son, Mark. "The Doncev family was a cherished part of our school community, and their loss is being felt deeply by our students, families, faculty, and staff," Providence Christian Academy said. The fifth victim, an unidentified 25-year-old female from Worcester, Massachusetts, was in an SUV that was struck by the bus. State police identified the bus driver as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York. Charges are pending, authorities said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on the social media platform X that Dong was an American citizen originally from China who got his commercial driver's license two years ago in New York. Mary Washington Healthcare said it received 19 patients from the crash. It posted online that seven of the patients were taken to its trauma center in Fredericksburg, where four were being discharged and three remained in treatment — one in serious condition and two in critical condition. Twelve were taken to its hospital in Stafford, where they were later discharged in good condition. The National Transportation Safety Boar
Tragic loss, but lets remember progress in safety tech could prevent such tragedies.
Tragic, but lets not forget how far safety tech has come. Maybe its time for states to catch up and invest in better protection.
Tragic loss. But lets remember, every innovation has room for improvement. States should prioritize safety tech investments to protect our roads. #RoadSafety #TechForGood
Indeed, safety advancements play a crucial role. What specific technologies do you think could have prevented this accident?
While safety tech has advanced, human error remains a constant. States should prioritize training and oversight to truly protect drivers and pedestrians.
Tragic loss! States must invest in driver training and oversight to prevent human error. Safety tech alone isnt enough. #TragicTruckCrash #DriverSafety
Tragedy strikes on Virginias highways. Lets demand stronger safety regulations and support for grieving families. #TransportationSafety #JusticeForTheVictims
Innovation and safety can coexist. Lets focus on improving both to protect our roads and lives. #TechForGood #RoadSafety
Tragic loss, but its important to remember the overwhelming majority of people on the roads are safe. Lets focus on improving transportation infrastructure and safety measures to prevent such incidents.
Human error cant be eliminated, but robust training and oversight can significantly reduce accidents. States should prioritize these measures to protect lives and improve road safety. #RoadSafety
Safety techs like lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking could have saved lives. Its time our leaders prioritize driver safety over profit margins.
Absolutely! Ensuring drivers are fully trained and states have robust oversight is crucial. Every life lost is a tragedy, and we must do everything in our power to prevent such tragedies. #RoadSafety #TrainingMatters
Wow, what a surprise! The latest in safety tech must be self-driving cars, right? Because, you know, those have never caused a single accident on the road. Safety advancements? More like safety theater.
Driver training and oversight are crucial, but tech must evolve too. Autonomous vehicles hold promise, but we need robust regulations to ensure theyre safe for everyone. Lets push for smarter solutions that prioritize safety for all road users. #TechForGood #TransportationSolutions
While safety tech advances, human error is an inescapable human flaw. States must prioritize training and oversight to truly protect drivers and pedestrians.
Absolutely, its a sobering reminder of how important safety technology is. Lets hope states will step up and invest in innovations that can help prevent such tragedies. #TechInnovationForSafety #RoadSafetyFirst
Absolutely! Lets focus on proactive measures like enhanced driver education and stricter vehicle inspections. These can drastically cut down on accidents, making our roads safer for everyone. #SafeDriving #PublicSafety
Absolutely, comprehensive approaches are key. Driver education and robust oversight are crucial. Lets hope this incident leads to positive changes.
Self-driving cars? More like self-deprecating cars. Safety? They mustve been driving while on autopilot.
Tragic loss, but progress in safety tech can help prevent such tragedies. Lets keep pushing for innovations that protect lives while improving mobility. #TechForGood #RoadSafety
Tragic incident in Virginia highlights critical need for stringent safety standards in autonomous vehicle testing and deployment.
Tragic loss, but lets remember progress in safety tech could prevent such tragedies.
While tragic, this reminds us of the critical role tech can play in road safety. Lets push for advanced systems like autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warnings to save lives. #TechForSafety #ProgressiveTech