STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (7News) — A predawn crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County left five people dead, including two children, after a bus failed to slow for traffic near a work zone and slammed into a car, triggering a chain-reaction wreck.
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Virginia State Police said the crash happened Friday just after 2 a.m. on I-95 southbound near mile marker 146, where traffic was slowing near a work zone.
Police said the bus did not stop and smashed into a car, causing multiple crashes.
Video obtained by 7News shows passengers crawling out of the crashed bus after it slammed into a ditch. Tire marks cut deep into the median at the scene, indicating where the bus left the roadway and came to rest in the ditch after a heavy impact.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. In an update Saturday, NTSB said it is examining the driver because of the severity of the crash and evidence showing he barely hit the brakes. Investigators also said they will look into whether the driver was tired or had a history of driving issues. They said they know he was driving at a high speed, but are still working to determine exactly how fast he was going.
The bus driver survived and remained hospitalized as of Saturday. He was identified as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island. He is facing two counts of involuntary manslaughter, and more charges could be filed.
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The NTSB said investigators will be at the scene for a week. An initial report is expected to take about a month to be released. A final report, including recommendations on changes aimed at preventing similar crashes, could take up to two years to complete.
