The bus driver involved in a tragic accident in Virginia that resulted in the deaths of five individuals reportedly does not speak English, a detail highlighted by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who deemed the situation “unacceptable.”
The incident occurred when an E&P Travel bus traveling from New York to North Carolina failed to reduce speed upon approaching a construction zone. This led to a collision with several vehicles on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, as reported by the Virginia State Police.
The crash took place in the early hours of Friday morning, around 2:35 a.m.
Among the victims were a 13-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, who were passengers in the vehicle directly ahead of the one struck by the bus. A 45-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman accompanying them also perished when their car caught fire.
All four individuals were residents of Massachusetts.
Additionally, a 25-year-old woman, traveling in the car immediately in front of the bus, lost her life in the collision.
At least 44 others were taken to hospitals, including three in critical condition, police said.
The driver of the bus, identified as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, was injured in the crash.
Police say charges are pending.
Dong is a naturalized citizen originally from China who received his commercial driver’s license in New York two years ago.
“Unacceptable. This is exactly why we are holding states’ accountable, enforcing the rules of the road, and cracking down on drivers who can’t speak English,” Duffy wrote on X.
“If you can’t be properly trained, read our road signs, or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus.”
Duffy added that the Transportation Department is investigating “New York licensing records, training documentation, and the driver’s history.
“Any company, trainer, or school that contributed to putting an unqualified driver on the road will face intense scrutiny.”
Federal law requires commercial drivers to speak English well enough to do their job safely.
In February, Duffy announced that all truckers and bus drivers would be required to take the test to get their license in English.
