A bus driver with a historical past of speeding accusations was indicted on further charges Monday in a chain-reaction crash in Virginia that killed 5 individuals and injured dozens extra.
Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, initially was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after the crash early Friday morning on Interstate 95. On Monday, a grand jury indicted him on three further charges of involuntary manslaughter and one rely of reckless driving, in response to an announcement from the Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Authorities mentioned Dong was driving a motorcoach from New York to North Carolina when he struck a line of automobiles that had slowed down in a piece zone. A household of 4 from Greenfield, Massachusetts, on their strategy to a marriage had been killed, as was a 25-year-old girl from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Dong, who remained hospitalized Monday, beforehand was accused of speeding in Colonial Heights, Virginia, in November 2024 and in Annapolis, Maryland, in March, in response to on-line courtroom data. In the latter case, he’s accused of driving a motorcoach 72 mph (116 kph) in a 50 mph (80 kph) zone.
In the Virginia case, Dong was convicted of driving 73 mph (117 kph) in a 55 mph (89 kph) zone and paid $219 in fines and courtroom prices. He additionally has a pending case in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, the place he was accused of trespassing in July.
The bus concerned in Friday’s crash was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based mostly in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, a board member mentioned.
Court paperwork associated to the bus crash don’t record an lawyer for Dong. Neither the lawyer representing him in the trespassing case nor the lawyer representing him in Maryland responded to emails in search of remark Monday.
Prosecutor Eric Olsen mentioned Dong shall be transported to jail upon his launch from the hospital.