A CBS News investigation has revealed that the company operating a bus involved in a deadly crash in Virginia has connections to a network of travel firms, some of which were previously shut down due to safety violations.
Federal authorities are now examining these ties. This network exhibits characteristics of what are known in the industry as ‘chameleon carriers’—companies that evade regulatory scrutiny by reincorporating under new names but with the same people and locations.
Rob Carpenter, a safety consultant for the trucking and busing industries, explains the risk: “When a company disappears and re-emerges under a different name, previous violations can be hidden until another accident reveals the truth.” CBS News identified around 10,000 such carriers across the U.S.
On May 29, an E&P Travel Inc. bus crashed into stationary traffic on I-95 near Quantico, Virginia, killing five and injuring dozens. This incident followed a similar crash by the same company in 2024. The U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating E&P Travel’s potential links to over a dozen other bus companies.
According to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, FMCSA is involved in the current probe. Duffy emphasized the importance of scrutinizing any entity responsible for unqualified drivers being on the road.
E&P Travel has a record of speeding violations and a driver failing an English proficiency test. Jing S. Dong, the driver in the recent crash, faces felony manslaughter charges. Despite its troubling history, E&P Travel received a ‘satisfactory’ safety rating from the FMCSA in April.
The company was registered in North Carolina in 2023, with Shuo Liu listed as its CEO. Attempts to reach Liu were unsuccessful. E&P Travel’s filings also list Joyce Gao as an officer, who is connected to Super Bus Inc.
Ronghai Gao, linked to multiple bus operations, denies Joyce Gao’s association with Super Bus beyond being a bookkeeper. He refused to discuss familial ties or her role at E&P Travel. Super Bus maintains a ‘satisfactory’ safety rating despite multiple violations.
Pandora Travel Inc., another company tied to Ronghai Gao, faced regulatory accusations in 2014 and a fatal crash in New Jersey. Federal regulators noted serious violations and non-compliance. Pandora Travel was ultimately shut down in 2017 after repeated regulatory infractions.