What was supposed to be a joyful family trip ended in unimaginable heartbreak on Interstate 95 in Virginia when a Greenfield, Massachusetts family of four was killed in a violent chain-reaction crash involving a charter bus early Friday morning.
Authorities identified the victims as 45-year-old Dmitri Doncev, his wife Ecaterina Doncev, 44, their teenage daughter Emily, 14, and their young son Mark, 7. The family was traveling south toward South Carolina for a family wedding when their journey was suddenly cut short on a dark stretch of highway in Stafford County near Quantico.
According to investigators, the crash happened around 2:35 a.m. in a construction zone along southbound I-95. Traffic had slowed ahead of road work when a charter bus reportedly failed to reduce speed and slammed into several vehicles. The impact triggered a devastating chain reaction involving multiple cars.
Police said the Doncev family was inside an Acura SUV that was struck during the collision. The vehicle caught fire after the impact. All four family members died at the scene before emergency crews could save them.
A fifth victim, a 25-year-old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts, was also killed after the bus struck a separate SUV. Dozens of other people suffered injuries. In total, 44 people were taken to hospitals, including the bus driver, identified by authorities as 48-year-old Jing S. Dong of Staten Island, New York.
Friends and relatives say the Doncevs were deeply respected members of the Russian Baptist community in western Massachusetts. After immigrating to the United States in 2008, they built a life in Greenfield and became known for their faith, generosity, and commitment to helping others. News of their deaths sent shockwaves through both their church family and the broader community.
As loved ones struggled to process the tragedy, messages of grief and support poured in from across Massachusetts. Family members described the loss as overwhelming, saying the Doncevs touched countless lives through simple acts of kindness and service. Many remembered Dmitri and Ecaterina as devoted parents who centered their lives around faith and family.
Investigators continue examining what led to the deadly crash. Virginia State Police said charges against the bus driver remain under consideration as the investigation moves forward. Federal transportation officials have also joined the review because of the scale of the disaster and the number of people injured.
Meanwhile, a fundraiser has been launched to help cover funeral expenses and transport the family’s remains back to Massachusetts. Thousands of dollars have already been donated as friends, church members, and strangers come together to support grieving relatives left behind after one of the deadliest highway crashes in the region this year.
