Bus Crash in Virginia Kills Five, Injures 44
A tragic bus accident occurred in Virginia on Friday, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and injuring 44 others. The man allegedly driving the bus, identified as Jin S. Dong, is a Chinese citizen who recently became a U.S. citizen. At the time of the crash, he was driving from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina.
The incident took place when the bus collided with stopped traffic on Interstate 95, as vehicles slowed down for a work zone. Among the deceased were a 13-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who shared the news on social media.
Local police have confirmed that the bus driver does not speak English and obtained his commercial driver’s license from New York State in 2024. Duffy expressed concerns, stating that this situation is unacceptable and emphasized the importance of road safety regulations. He pointed out that drivers should be able to understand road signs and communicate with law enforcement.
Investigators are currently looking into New York’s license records, training materials, and the driving history of the individuals involved. Duffy mentioned that companies and training programs that contribute to placing unqualified drivers on the road would face scrutiny.
He also extended condolences to the families of the victims and those injured in this horrific incident. Dong, among the injured, remains hospitalized, and criminal charges may be forthcoming against him.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene, recounting how the bus “flew by” them and narrowly missed their vehicle. Footage from a mobile phone captured the evacuation of passengers from the bus.
Interestingly, this isn’t a first; similar concerns arose in December when a truck driver in Tennessee was reported to lack fluency in English. Reports suggest that an unauthorized New York commercial driver’s license played a role in that collision as well. Duffy had previously warned that New York could lose $73 million in federal highway funding due to an audit revealing that many immigrant licenses were issued improperly.
