GREENFIELD — Jing S. Dong, 48, the driver of the bus that killed four Greenfield residents in a crash on Interstate 95 in Virginia on Friday morning, has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, Virginia State Police said in a statement on Saturday.
The four members of the Doncev family — 45-year-old Dmitri, 44-year-old Ecaterina, and their children, 13-year-old Emily and 7-year-old Mark — died when their SUV was struck by a bus driver in Stafford County, Virginia. The family had been traveling to a relative’s wedding when, at approximately 2:35 a.m., a bus operated by E&P Transportation failed to slow for traffic in a work zone and crashed into a Chevrolet Suburban driven by 25-year-old Priscilla Mafalda of Worcester. Mafalda’s Suburban was then forced into the Doncev family’s Acura SUV and other vehicles.
News of the tragedy has prompted community members to start raising money through a GoFundMe at tinyurl.com/DoncevFamily to cover the costs of transporting the deceased back to Greenfield and for funeral expenses. As of Saturday evening, community members had already raised more than $56,000, surpassing a $50,000 goal with 418 donations.
“Today, words cannot adequately express the pain and sorrow felt by their family, friends, church community, coworkers, classmates and all who had the privilege of knowing them. Their absence leaves a void that can never be filled, but their memories, their love and the countless lives they touched will remain forever in our hearts,” Anatoliy Bublik, described as a family friend and a fellow church member of the Greenfield Russian Baptist Church, wrote on the fundraising page. “Though their time with us was far too short, the legacy of kindness, faith, perseverance and love that they leave behind will continue to inspire all who knew them.”
Bublik wrote that Ecaterina and Dmitri immigrated to the United States in 2008 and settled in Greenfield, where they were faithful members of the Greenfield Russian Baptist Church. Dmitri, “known for his bright personality and generous spirit,” was a registered nurse at Holyoke Medical Center’s Mental Health Unit, Bublik wrote, adding that Ecaterina “will be remembered for her creative mind, outgoing nature and joyful presence.”
Neighbor Vanessa Cypher and her children placed a wreath on the doorstep of the Doncev family home on Willow Street. She said the news was shocking.
“Our daughters grew up playing together, riding bikes and going on the trampoline, and my son, who is 8, just built a friendship with their son, Mark, who was 7,” Cypher said. “Just this past Tuesday, they were riding scooters together. We are very shocked and saddened by the news.”
In a statement on its website, Providence Christian Academy, which both children attended, shared that the loss would be felt by the whole community.
“Providence Christian Academy is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the Doncev family following a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 95. The Doncev family was a cherished part of our school community, and their loss is being felt deeply by our students, families, faculty and staff. At this time, our focus is on caring for our school community and supporting those who are grieving. Out of respect for the family and for our students, we ask that their privacy be honored during this difficult time. We are grateful for the many prayers and expressions of support that have already been extended to the family and our school community.”
In a statement on Friday afternoon, Greenfield Mayor Ginny Desorgher offered condolences to those who knew the Doncev family.
“To the families, friends and neighbors of those we lost: there are no words that can fully ease the weight of this sudden and unimaginable grief. Please know that you are not walking through this dark time alone. The Greenfield community stands with you, mourning alongside you, and we extend our absolute deepest condolences and prayers.”
Desorgher pledged that the city will “work to ensure that the grieving families have access to the resources, care and comfort they need.”
“I ask all Greenfield residents to wrap your arms around our neighbors with the compassion, kindness and unity that defines our community,” she continued, adding, “We are also holding the dozens of others who were injured in this crash in our thoughts, wishing them a full and swift recovery.”
According to Virginia State Police, approximately 44 patients were transported to area hospitals, three with critical injuries. Dong, of Staten Island, New York, was injured as well. The crash is still under investigation and police say additional charges are pending.
According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration compliance snapshot, E&P Transportation was rated as “satisfactory,” with only one crash in the past 24 months. The company, based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, has four vehicles and employs 11 drivers.
In a post on X, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote that Dong had received his commercial driver’s license from New York State in 2024. According to Duffy, Dong is a naturalized U.S. citizen from China who did not speak English.
“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.”
