Priscilla R. Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, was identified on May 30 as one of the victims killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a bus and two other vehicles in Virginia. The crash occurred on May 29 and also claimed the lives of an entire Greenfield family.
Virginia State Police said the driver of the E&P Travel bus, which was traveling from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Additional charges are pending as authorities continue their investigation.
According to police, preliminary findings indicate that the bus failed to slow for traffic and struck a Chevrolet Suburban driven by Mafalda. The impact forced the Suburban into an Acura SUV carrying Dmitri Doncev, 45; Ecaterina Doncev, 44; Emily Doncev, 14; and Mark Doncev, 7—all members of a Greenfield family who were also killed.
Authorities reported that approximately 44 people were transported to area hospitals following the crash. Three individuals sustained critical injuries.
The driver of the bus has been identified as Jing S. Dong, 48, of New York City. Dong survived with injuries and is a U.S. citizen from China holding a commercial license from New York. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented on social media that local officials confirmed Dong does not speak English, and stated: “If you can’t be properly trained, read our road signs or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus.” Virginia State Police said they are continuing to look into Dong’s actions prior to the collision.
