Investigation into Virginia Bus Crash Reveals Links to Wider Network

The bus company involved in the recent deadly crash in Virginia has connections to a larger network of travel firms, some of which have been previously shut down by regulators. The crash has prompted federal authorities to investigate these links. The network seems to show characteristics of operators who, despite federal scrutiny, maintain operations by establishing new entities under different names. These are known as chameleon carriers in the trucking and passenger bus industry.

According to Rob Carpenter, a safety consultant, these companies manage to hide their past safety violations by rebranding themselves, enabling unsafe practices until a major incident forces them into the spotlight. This came into focus when a bus operated by E&P Travel Inc. crashed on May 29 in Stafford County, Virginia, resulting in five deaths and multiple injuries.

Federal authorities, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, are examining any potential connections E&P Travel Inc. may have with over a dozen existing and former bus companies in the Northeast. Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, stated that any entity responsible for placing unqualified drivers on the road would face rigorous scrutiny.

Records show E&P Travel has been cited for multiple speeding violations. The driver involved in the crash is facing serious charges. Despite its troubled history, E&P Travel received a ‘satisfactory’ safety rating from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

E&P Travel was incorporated in November 2023 in North Carolina with a residential address listed as its headquarters. Efforts to reach its CEO, Shuo Liu, have been unsuccessful. The company’s filings revealed Joyce Gao as a company officer, while also being associated with another entity, Super Bus Inc., where she was a bookkeeper. Her role in both companies raises questions, but company president Ronghai Gao refused to provide further details.

Super Bus shares a ‘satisfactory’ safety rating but has been cited for various traffic violations. Moreover, the names Joyce and Ronghai Gao link to several other busing operations in the region, including Pandora Travel Inc., which faced regulatory action in the past.

Pandora Travel was accused of severe safety violations. An FMCSA inspector noted the company’s failure to manage driver behavior, resulting in multiple unsafe driving incidents. A significant violation occurred in 2014, involving a bus rolling over in a snowstorm, injuring seven people. Despite agreeing to certain conditions in 2014, Pandora Travel was permanently shut down in 2017 for continuing non-compliance with federal regulations.