The driver of a bus involved in a tragic crash in Virginia, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, did not speak English. This revelation came from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who criticized the situation as “unacceptable.”
Accident Overview
The incident occurred when an E&P Travel bus traveling from New York to North Carolina failed to slow down near a road work zone. The bus collided with several vehicles on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, according to Virginia State Police.
The accident happened early Friday morning at approximately 2:35 a.m. Among the deceased were a 13-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, a 45-year-old man, and a 44-year-old woman. All victims were Massachusetts residents. Their vehicle caught fire after the impact.
A 25-year-old woman in a separate vehicle in front of the bus also died. Police reported that at least 44 more people were hospitalized, three of them in critical condition.
Investigation and Responses
The bus driver, identified as Jing S. Dong, 48, from Staten Island, New York, suffered injuries in the accident. Charges against him are pending.
Dong, originally from China, is a naturalized U.S. citizen and obtained his commercial driver’s license in New York two years ago.
“Unacceptable. This is exactly why we are holding states accountable, enforcing the rules of the road, and addressing drivers who can’t speak English,” Duffy wrote on X. “If you can’t be properly trained, read our road signs, or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus.”
Duffy’s comments referenced federal law, which mandates that commercial drivers must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to perform their duties safely.
The Transportation Department has launched an investigation into New York’s licensing records, training materials, and the driver’s history. Entities involved in licensing an unqualified driver will face scrutiny.
Federal Regulations
In February, Secretary Duffy stated that all truckers and bus drivers must pass their licensing tests in English. This measure aims to ensure that all drivers meet necessary communication standards for road safety.
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