A bus crashed into six vehicles on Interstate 95 in Virginia early Friday morning, killing five people and sending 34 others to hospitals, according to state police.

The crash occurred at approximately 2:35 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County near Quantico. All five fatalities were occupants of vehicles struck by the bus, while three of the injured remain in critical condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that traffic was slowing for an upcoming work zone when the bus failed to reduce speed and collided with the vehicles ahead. The Virginia State Police said the bus struck a total of six vehicles in the chain reaction crash.

Authorities have not released information about the cause of the bus driver's failure to slow down or whether any charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation by Virginia State Police.

The incident temporarily closed portions of the heavily traveled interstate highway, which connects major East Coast cities and sees significant commercial and passenger traffic daily.