"You Can't Read Our Road Signs" Fatal Virginia Bus Crash Puts CDL English Rules Back in the Spotlight

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — A charter bus slammed into slowed traffic on Interstate 95 before dawn Friday, leaving five people dead, dozens injured, and federal investigators examining whether the driver's inability to speak English played a role in the tragedy.

Jing S. Dong, 48, a U.S. citizen originally from China, faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter after authorities said the southbound motor coach failed to slow as vehicles approached a work zone, according to Virginia State Police. Additional charges remain possible.

Secretary Sean Duffy pointed to Dong's reported lack of English proficiency, writing on social media, "If you can't be properly trained, read our road signs, or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus."

State police said the collision happened around 2:35 a.m. while the bus traveled from New York toward North Carolina. The impact triggered a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles along one of the East Coast's busiest highways.

Among those killed were Dmitri Doncev, Ecaterina Doncev, and their two children, Emily and Mark, who were headed from Massachusetts to a family wedding in South Carolina. Priscilla Mafalda of Worcester, Massachusetts, also died.

Forty-four people were transported to medical centers following the wreck. Three suffered critical injuries, authorities said.

Federal rules require commercial drivers to speak and understand English well enough to read highway signs, communicate with law enforcement officers, and complete required records. Dong received his commercial driver's license in New York during 2024.

National Transportation Safety Board officials have not concluded that language proficiency caused the collision. Investigators said speed, driver actions, roadway conditions, health factors, and communication ability are all being examined.

Licensing procedures have also come under examination. Duffy said federal officials are reviewing training records, licensing documents, and other material connected to Dong's qualification to operate a commercial passenger vehicle.

No findings have been released. Grieving families and survivors continue waiting for investigators to determine what occurred during the final moments before impact.