Bus Driver Pleads Not Guilty in I-95 Crash That Killed Five

Overview

• A motorcoach operated by E&P Travel plowed into stopped traffic in a 1.6-mile overnight work zone on I-95, killing five people and sending about 44 others to hospitals in the May 29 crash.
• Driver Jing Sheng Dong appeared in Stafford County Circuit Court on July 1, pleaded not guilty to multiple involuntary manslaughter counts and a reckless driving charge, and was ordered held without bond with a trial set for October.
• Preliminary NTSB and Virginia State Police findings show the bus did not slow before striking the traffic queue and investigators have flagged speed and braking as key factors in the collision.
• Dong’s attorney says the crash was an accident and contests criminal culpability while asserting Dong was not impaired and was driving within the speed limit; prosecutors note prior speeding allegations that are part of the factual record.
• Federal subpoenas for Dong’s commercial licensing and training records and reviews of E&P Travel’s safety record are active, and investigators say a final NTSB report due in 12 to 24 months could lead to safety recommendations for driver oversight and work‑zone protections.