A massive bus collision on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, on Friday morning killed five people and injured dozens more. The crash occurred around 2:35 a.m. as traffic slowed for a work zone, and a 48‑year‑old driver from Staten Island failed to decelerate, striking six vehhicles in a chain reaction.

Fatalities include 13‑year‑old girl and 7‑year‑old boy from Greenfield, Mass.

Virginia State Police identified the youngest victims as a 13‑year‑old girl and a 7‑year‑old boy, both residents of Greenfield, Massachusetts. They were among four other passengers who perished when their SUV ignited after being hit by the bus. A 25‑year‑old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts, died in the first vehicle struck.

Bus driver Jing Dong’s language barrier raises licensing questions

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said investigators are reviewing the qualifications of the bus driver , 48‑year‑old Jing Dong of Staten Island, New York, who was also injured in the crash. Duffy noted that federal law requires comercial drivers to demnostrate English proficiency, a requirement Dong reportedly does not meet.

Work‑zone slowdown linked to chain‑reaction crash at mile marker 146

Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Virginia State Police indicate that southbound traffic was decelerating for an upcoming work zone when the bus failed to reduce speed,colliding with six vehicles. The NTSB is coordinating the investigation with state authorities to determine whether mechanical failure, driver error, or other factors contributed.

Mary Washington Healthcare’s ongoing trauma care for five remaining patients

Mary Washington Healthcare reported receiving 19 patients from the crash, of whom 14 have been discharged. Five patients remain in the trauma center: one in critical condition, two serious, and two fair. The health system continues to provide care and arrange alternate travel for those still hospitalized.

What additional factors contributed to the bus’s failure to brake?

The source does not detaail whether the bus experienced a mechanical malfunction, driver fatigue, or inadequate signage. Investigators have yet to release findings on vehicle maintenance records or possible distractions that may have impaired the driver’s response.