Bus driver in deadly I-95 crash appears in court
Bus driver in deadly I-95 crash appears in court
Charter bus driver Jing Sheng Dong, 48, appeared in court after being charged in the I-95 crash in Stafford County that killed five people and injured 44 others.
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. - The driver of a charter bus involved in a deadly Interstate 95 crash in Stafford County made his first court appearances Thursday, as investigators continue trying to determine why the vehicle never slowed before plowing into traffic near a construction zone.
Authorities say the 48‑year‑old driver from Staten Island, New York, spent ten days in the hospital following the May 29 crash. He was released Tuesday and booked into the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Jing Dong, who faces multiple felony charges tied to the crash, appeared in court in a wheelchair and, through his attorney, expressed remorse on Wednesday for the lives lost in the crash.
"He is very remorseful. Emotionally he is devastated," defense attorney Thad Furlong said. "When he found out that lives were lost when he woke up in the hospital and was informed that people lost their lives in this accident, he was devastated by that."
What we know:
Virginia State Police say the driver, Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, was behind the wheel of a bus carrying 34 passengers from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, when it slammed into slowing traffic in a construction zone.
Investigators believe he never hit the brakes before the collision.
Jing Sheng Dong (Rappahannock Regional Jail)
RELATED: Mugshot released of bus driver charged in deadly Stafford County crash
Five people were killed, including four members of a Massachusetts family traveling to a wedding in South Carolina. Forty‑four others were injured.
A Virginia criminal defense attorney in the case says prosecutors will need to prove the driver was criminally negligent to secure a conviction.
Court proceedings on Wednesday revealed Dong required a Mandarin interpreter because he speaks little English.
Federal transportation officials have previously noted that English proficiency is required for commercial drivers operating interstate passenger vehicles.
Records also indicate Dong had previously received at least one speeding citation while operating a bus in Maryland.
Federal records show the bus company has been cited for three unsafe driving violations in the past two years, including speeding 15 mph or more over the limit, as well as a violation involving English‑language proficiency requirements. Court records in Maryland and Virginia also show prior speeding violations.
RELATED: Bus driver in deadly Stafford County I-95 crash now facing felony charges
What's next:
Prosecutors told the court they have approximately 2,000 photographs and extensive video evidence from the crash scene that are being turned over to the defense.
Virginia State Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with video footage or eyewitness information to come forward. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a separate investigation.
The driver is being held without bond. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison for each death.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.