SouthernWorldwide.com – A tragic bus crash in Virginia that resulted in five fatalities has brought to light concerns about the driver’s English language proficiency, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. He described the situation as “unacceptable.”
The incident occurred when an E&P Travel bus, en route from New York to North Carolina, failed to reduce speed in a work zone. The bus subsequently collided with multiple vehicles on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia, leading to the deaths of five individuals and injuring dozens more, as reported by the Virginia State Police.
The crash took place in the early morning hours of Friday, around 2:35 a.m.
Among the deceased were a 13-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, who were occupants of a car ahead of the vehicle the bus struck. Also killed were a 45-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman, whose car caught fire following the impact. All four were residents of Massachusetts.
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A 25-year-old woman, who was in the car directly in front of the bus, also lost her life in the collision.
Authorities confirmed that at least 44 other individuals were transported to various hospitals, with three of them in critical condition.
The bus driver, identified as 48-year-old Jing S. Dong from Staten Island, New York, sustained injuries in the crash. The Virginia State Police indicated that charges are pending against the driver.
Dong is a naturalized citizen who originally hails from China. He obtained his commercial driver’s license in New York two years prior to the incident.
“Unacceptable. This is exactly why we are holding states accountable, enforcing the rules of the road, and cracking down on drivers who can’t speak English,” Duffy stated in a post on X. He emphasized that individuals who cannot be properly trained, read road signs, or communicate with law enforcement should not be operating a bus.
Secretary Duffy further revealed that the Department of Transportation is actively investigating New York’s licensing records, training documentation, and the driver’s history. He assured that any company, trainer, or school found to have contributed to placing an unqualified driver on the road would face intense scrutiny.
Federal regulations mandate that commercial drivers must possess sufficient English language skills to perform their duties safely.
In February of the same year, Secretary Duffy announced a new requirement mandating that all truckers and bus drivers must pass their licensing test in English.
