The early morning wreck injured 34 people and disrupted southbound I-95 traffic for hours.
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — Five people were killed and 34 others were injured Friday when a bus hit six vehicles on southbound Interstate 95 near Quantico as traffic slowed before a work zone, Virginia State Police said.
The wreck was reported around 2:35 a.m. at mile marker 146, about two miles south of the Quantico exit. State police said the people who died were in vehicles struck by the bus. Three injured people were listed in critical condition. The crash drew a large emergency response and shut down the southbound side of the highway during the morning rush.
Police said the bus failed to slow as traffic ahead of it slowed for the work zone. Officials had not released the victims’ names, ages or hometowns Friday morning. They also had not released the bus company, route, passenger count or driver information. “The preliminary investigation indicates that traffic was slowing southbound for an upcoming work zone,” state police said.
Hospitals across the Fredericksburg and Stafford area received patients after the crash. Mary Washington Healthcare said 19 patients were taken to its facilities. Seven went to Mary Washington Hospital’s trauma center in Fredericksburg, where five were treated and being discharged and two remained in critical condition. Twelve patients went to Stafford Hospital and were later discharged in good condition.
VDOT said the crash closed all southbound lanes at mile marker 146 and caused major delays on I-95 and Route 1. Southbound traffic was diverted at Exit 148 in Quantico while crews worked near the crash scene. Transportation officials said drivers using the corridor faced heavy congestion as the closure continued through the morning.
Two southbound lanes reopened by 10 a.m., and VDOT lifted the detour at the Quantico exit. One lane remained blocked for crash reconstruction. Delays still stretched north toward Dale City as traffic slowly cleared the area.
The investigation remained active Friday. State police said charges were pending, but no charge had been announced. Investigators were expected to examine the bus, the other vehicles, roadway conditions and the work zone traffic pattern before completing their findings.
The crash brought a deadly start to a busy travel day on one of the region’s main commuter and freight routes. Officials said the next steps include notifying families, confirming the cause and determining whether the bus driver or any other party will face charges.
Author note: Last updated May 29, 2026.