A bus plowed into vehicles near a work zone on Interstate 95 in Virginia overnight, killing at least five people, including children, according to Virginia State Police on Friday.
The deadly crash happened around 2:35 a.m. on the southbound side of I-95 in Stafford County.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that traffic was slowing southbound for an upcoming work zone,” according to police. “A bus failed to slow for traffic and struck six vehicles.”
There were a total of 34 passengers on the bus.
Four of the fatalities were in a single car that caught fire. The victims were a 45-year-old male, a 44-year-old female, a 13-year-old female, and a 7-year-old male, police said. All the victims were from Greenfield, Massachusetts.
The fifth victim, a 25-year-old female from Worcester, Massachusetts, was in an SUV that was struck by the bus.
The bus driver has been identified as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, N.Y. Charges against him are pending, according to authorities.
“I’ve got to say, this is one of the most tragic things I’ve ever seen. Absolutely tragic,” Peyton Vogel, a Federal Transit Administration spokesperson, said at the scene.
“My heart is with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and I am praying for a quick recovery for those injured,” Spanberger added.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) also issued a statement following the deadly crash.