Virginia Crash That Killed 5 Involved Non-English Speaking Driver Who Got License in New York: Duffy

A crash in Virginia that killed five people last week involved a non-English-speaking driver of a bus who obtained a commercial license in New York state, U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy said on Sunday.

Among those killed were a 13-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, officials said, adding that the driver of the bus slammed into stopped traffic on Interstate 95 in Virginia. The driver, Jing S. Dong of Staten Island, was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, and additional charges are likely, Virginia State Police said.

The prosecutor’s office in Stafford County, Virginia, said Dong was arrested and would be in custody while he is treated for his injuries at a hospital.

Police officials confirmed that the driver of the bus, a man originally from China who became a U.S. citizen, “doesn’t speak English,” said Duffy in a May 29 post on X.

“He received his commercial drivers license from New York State in 2024. 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 wrote. “If you can’t be properly trained, read our road signs, or communicate with law enforcement, you have no business driving a bus.”

The Department of Transportation is now looking into New York’s licensing records, training documents, and the history of the driver, he added.

“Any company, trainer, or school that contributed to putting an unqualified driver on the road will face intense scrutiny,” Duffy said. “We’ll share more updates soon. My prayers are with the loved ones of the innocent lives lost and those who were hurt in this horrific crime.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, a monthslong task separate from the work of state police. Board member Tom Chapman revealed few new details but said the bus was moving at a high rate of speed.

The bus, which was taking people from New York to North Carolina, was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.

Federal law requires the drivers of commercial vehicles to be able to speak and read English well enough to perform their job safely, according to the White House.

Last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order make sure drivers are “able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” adding that the requirement must be enforced “to protect the safety of American truckers, drivers, passengers, and others, including by upholding the safety enforcement regulations that ensure that anyone behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is properly qualified and proficient in our national language, English.”

Earlier this month, Duffy signed an order announcing new guidelines that truck drivers must meet the federal requirements to understand English well enough to understand road signs and be able to communicate with law enforcement officials.

A number of states have allowed drivers to take their license tests in other languages even though they are required to demonstrate English proficiency. California offered tests in 20 other languages.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.