STAFFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA — Jing Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, appeared in a Stafford County court on Wednesday facing five counts of involuntary manslaughter and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving. The charges are connected to a coach bus crash on Interstate 95 on May 29 that killed five people and injured dozens of others.

During the court proceedings, a Mandarin interpreter assisted. Dong was pushed into two separate courtrooms in a wheelchair. Police stated that Dong failed to reduce the speed of the coach bus when approaching a work zone in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95. The coach bus then struck a Chevrolet Suburban, which caused a chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles.

Attorney Thad Furlong said Dong experienced pain and underwent several internal surgeries after the crash. He also stated that Dong speaks limited English and preferred to communicate in his native language. Dong was born in China.

He confirmed that Dong expressed remorse about the incident. "He's expressed how sorry he is about this incident many times to us," he said. "It's a genuine remorse. He wished it had never happened."

Prosecutors provided the defense team with approximately 2,000 photographs and video evidence. He stated the defense plans to compare Dong's recollections with the evidence. He added that Dong is competent to participate despite residual concussion effects. "He has to focus sometimes to answer our questions. He's still got some residual concussion and things going on up there, but he is competent at this time to participate in the proceedings," he said.

An arraignment for Dong in circuit court is scheduled for June 22. A preliminary hearing in General District Court is set for August 28. Commonwealth Attorney Eric Olsen stated that the charges will likely be merged in circuit court.