Investigation Reveals Troubling Connections Behind Deadly Bus Crash

A bus crash in Virginia last week that resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals has exposed deeper concerns within the travel industry. A CBS News investigation has uncovered links between the bus company involved, E&P Travel Inc., and a wider network of travel firms. Some of these companies have been previously shut down due to severe safety violations.

Federal authorities are now examining these connections. The network seems to involve operators who change names while maintaining the same personnel and equipment, a practice referred to as ‘chameleon carriers’ in the industry. This tactic allows companies to obscure their histories and continue operations despite previous regulatory issues.

The Virginia crash occurred on May 29, when an E&P Travel bus collided with traffic halted at a work zone on I-95 in Stafford County. The incident left five dead and many others injured. Similar events have happened before; in 2024, another E&P Travel bus hit a vehicle at a North Carolina construction site, injuring nine people.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is actively investigating E&P Travel’s connections to multiple companies in the Northeast. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has stated that any party responsible for putting unqualified drivers on the road will face rigorous scrutiny.

E&P Travel Inc. has a problematic safety record, with citations for significant speeding and language proficiency issues among drivers. Moreover, the driver involved in the recent crash, Jing S. Dong, is facing felony charges for involuntary manslaughter. While the company has a history of violations, it was rated ‘satisfactory’ by federal safety standards.

E&P Travel was founded in November 2023, with its headquarters in Kings Mountain, N.C. Attempts to reach CEO Shuo Liu have been unsuccessful. Filings also list Joyce Gao as an officer, who is linked to another company, Super Bus Inc.

Ronghai Gao, associated with multiple bus companies, disputes his listed roles and declined to clarify his connection to Joyce Gao. Efforts to reach Joyce Gao have also been unsuccessful.

This investigation also identified another company, Pandora Travel Inc., whose operations regulators shut down permanently in 2017 due to persistent safety violations. Records show Pandora drivers frequently exceeded speed limits, contributing to dangerous incidents like a 2014 crash in New Jersey.

Despite the company’s shutdown, some individuals involved have resurfaced in other ventures, continuing to complicate regulatory oversight in the travel industry.