STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — New details emerged Friday about the charter bus crash on Interstate 95 that killed five people and injured dozens more, as prosecutors presented video evidence during a preliminary hearing in Stafford County court.
The crash happened around 2:35 a.m. May 29, about two miles south of the Quantico exit. Traffic was reportedly moving slowly because of a construction work zone when the bus allegedly failed to slow down and slammed into multiple vehicles.
Bus driver Jing Dong, 48, has been charged with five counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving.
The preliminary hearing offered the clearest look yet at what happened inside and around the bus in the moments leading up to the deadly collision.
Video Shows Bus Traveling at Speed
Prosecutors played two videos recorded by cameras mounted on the bus Dong was driving.
One camera, positioned outside the bus, showed the vehicle traveling at speed when the crash occurred. Another camera captured Dong in the driver’s seat.
The interior footage showed Dong with both hands on the steering wheel. He did not appear to be distracted, and there was nothing else in his hands when the crash occurred.
Despite the video evidence showing Dong apparently focused on driving, the reason he did not slow down for the traffic ahead remains unclear.
Prosecutors have alleged that Dong failed to slow as he approached the work zone and then struck several vehicles.
His attorney, Thomas Walsh, acknowledged that he did not yet have an explanation for why the crash happened.
“This guy is under the speed limit, [hands at] 10 and 2, right in a straight lane. He just doesn’t stop,” Walsh said in court.
Defense Says Crash Was an Accident
Dong’s defense team strongly disputed the idea that the collision amounted to manslaughter.
Walsh said he was not prepared to reveal the specific defense strategy yet, but insisted there was a legitimate explanation for what happened.
“Well, there is a good defense for it. I am not going to get into it,” Walsh told News4. “I will hold that one.”
When asked whether he believed the incident was an accident, Walsh was direct.
“Obviously, it’s an accident, yes,” he said.
Dong has been released from custody pending trial.
Prosecutors have so far secured three indictments for involuntary manslaughter and are expected to seek two additional indictments.
Troopers Describe Chaotic Crash Scene
Several witnesses took the stand Friday, including two police officers, two Virginia State Police troopers and a truck driver who witnessed the aftermath.
One state trooper described climbing through the roof of the damaged bus to help passengers escape.
Inside, she said she encountered smoke, blood, broken glass and debris. During the rescue, she also found Dong trapped behind the steering wheel.
A second trooper testified that drivers approaching the construction area had been given multiple warnings. According to her testimony, four road signs warned of the upcoming work zone and lane closures before the crash location.
Two off-duty police officers who came upon the wreck also described a desperate rescue effort. They used fire extinguishers while attempting to pull victims from vehicles that had caught fire.
Five People Killed in Devastating Collision
The crash claimed the lives of four members of one family from Greenfield, Massachusetts — a couple and their two children.
A woman from Worcester, Massachusetts, who was traveling in another vehicle, was also killed.
In total, 44 people needed medical treatment following the crash.
The scale of the collision has made the question of why the bus failed to stop central to the criminal case. While prosecutors continue building their case, the defense maintains that a tragic accident should not automatically be treated as a criminal act.
Dong Returns to Court in September
Dong remains charged with five counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving.
He is scheduled to return to court on September 2, while his trial is currently set for October.
The newly presented videos and witness testimony could become important pieces of evidence as the case moves forward. However, the central question remains unanswered: Why did the bus continue toward slowed traffic despite Dong appearing attentive and having both hands on the wheel?
That question is likely to remain at the heart of the case as prosecutors and the defense prepare for trial.
What do you think the new video evidence could mean for the case? Share your thoughts in the comments.
