Bus driver accused in deadly I-95 crash in Stafford granted bond

STAFFORD, Va. (DC News Now) -- The bus driver accused in a deadly crash along I-95 in Stafford in May could be released on bond. A Stafford County judge granted bail conditions for 48-year-old Jing Dong, who is facing five counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the crash. Dong has spent most of the last two months in custody, in either the hospital or jail, since the May 29 crash that killed 5 people from Massachusetts. He faces a maximum of 50 years behind bars. In addition to posting the $25,000 bond set by the Circuit Court judge, he has to surrender both his U.S. and Chinese passports, his driver's and commercial driver's licenses, and he's not allowed to drive any vehicle of any kind or leave Virginia. The judge ordered him to provide an address in Virginia, where he'll be placed on house arrest if he is released. Dong's defense said that could prove difficult, as his wife and 17-year-old son live in Staten Island, where he owns a home. His involuntary manslaughter charges are still split between General District Court and Circuit Court, so now a District Court judge has to agree to those same bail conditions, and then he has to meet those conditions before he can be released. "I anticipate that they're going to be, hopefully, they're going to be very practical about that since we've argued it. Then he'll have the same terms and conditions that he has in Circuit Court as in General District Court. Now, the issue becomes he has to stay in Virginia. That's going to be tough for him," said Dong's defense attorney Thomas Walsh. "The judge did what he should do. I think it was fair." Stafford County Commonwealth's Attorney on Wednesday showed multiple videos and photos of the crash in court, now placed under seal, showing the moment of impact leading to that fiery crash and the damage left behind. Dong's defense attorney said his client is remorseful. Walsh said Dong was going 61 mph in a 65 mph zone, and said video footage from inside the bus will show that Dong wasn't under the influence, sleeping or using a cell phone at the time of the crash, which he describes as an accident. "We can't change what happened. It's hard. My client, when I showed him, when I showed him the accident, news reports of the accident, he broke down crying. The first time I met him, he just started crying. He got emotional," said Walsh. Walsh said the additional bond hearing in General District Court could come as soon as Friday, or if the Commonwealth submits a joint order of agreement on the bond conditions already set by today's judge, it could happen without another hearing. Dong's preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 28.