Bus crash survivors describe chaos on I-95 in Virginia: 'Blood everywhere, people screaming'

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — Wayne Tobin was asleep on a bus headed from New York City to Charlotte when a violent jolt woke him.

"I felt the big crash, and I leaned up, as he was hitting stuff, it pushed me into the other seat in front of me, and it was like hard to get up after he just kept crashing into stuff," Tobin said.

Another passenger, who identified herself only as Judy, described the chaos in the moments after impact.

"Boom, people screaming on the bus, glass flying everywhere, the bus turning over," Judy said.

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The bus, operated by North Carolina-based E&P Travel, was traveling south on Interstate 95 in Stafford County around 2:35 a.m. Friday near mile marker 146. Virginia State Police said the bus driver failed to slow for traffic approaching a work zone and struck a Chevrolet Suburban, which then hit an Acura SUV. Several other vehicles were also hit.

Five people were killed and dozens more were injured in the crash.

The bus had left New York City around 8:30 p.m. Thursday and was on its way to Charlotte, North Carolina. Tobin was traveling to his mother's funeral. Judy was on her way to see her sick father in Raleigh.

Both were asleep when the crash happened.

"You had blood, people bleeding, people screaming, the bus smoking. A stranger came, bust the window open and let us all out. I'm thankful for that," Judy said.

"There was blood everywhere. People holding their heads, their shoulders, still waking up trying to figure out what was going on," Tobin said.

Outside, passengers pulled each other together and checked on injuries while waiting for emergency crews.

Tobin said he suffered shoulder, hip and back injuries and used his Apple Watch to contact family after being separated from his phone.

The bus was carrying 34 passengers at the time of the crash. Officials said 44 people in total were taken to area hospitals.

Mary Washington Healthcare reported treating 19 crash victims at two facilities. As of Friday afternoon, 6 patients remained hospitalized, including some with life-threatening injuries. Seven were treated at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg and 12 were taken to Stafford Hospital, where all were later discharged in good condition. Hospital staff said they continued to assist patients with meals, personal needs and transportation until they could be reunited with their belongings.

The bus driver, 48-year-old Jing Dong of Staten Island, was injured in the crash and underwent surgery before being taken into custody. Charges are pending.

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Federal records show E&P Travel held a "satisfactory" safety rating and had one other reported crash in the last two years. The company had not responded to requests for comment as of Friday.

The crash closed I-95 south for just over four hours, reopening around noon. Traffic was backed up for roughly 5 miles even after lanes were cleared.

For Judy, the crash carried an especially painful echo. She said one of her daughters survived a 2019 bus crash in Prince George County, Virginia, that left two people dead.

"I don't think I want to be riding nowhere. I don't think I want to fly right now, and I just want to stay on land, man. It's scary. It's scary," Judy said.

Tobin, still waiting to recover his belongings from the tow yard Friday afternoon, said he was focused on one thing.

"I just want to get home. I'm just so happy that I'm allowed. I just want to make it home," Tobin said.

"It's really tragic, and it makes me feel horrible. I really wish that wouldn't happen to anybody. That's nothing that nobody needs to see or have to go through," he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a "go-team" to investigate. A spokesperson was on scene at the recovery yard Friday afternoon and said the agency will hold its first briefing Saturday afternoon. The crash remains under investigation by Virginia State Police.

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