OfficerBlueCharlottesville, VA – A train that was chartered to carry Republican Members of Congress to a retreat in West Virginia collided with a garbage truck on the train tracks Wednesday morning, leaving one person dead.
The Amtrak train crashed with the truck in Crozet, a town just west of Charlottesville, at 11:20 a.m. on Jan. 31.
A spokeswoman for the Congressional Institute, which is sponsoring the retreat, told NBC News that there was one fatality, one personal critically injured, one member of Congress sent to the hospital, and another being examined along with a staffer.
Senator Jeff Flake (R – Arizona) told the Washington Post there were three passengers on the truck that was hit. He said one was dead, and two people were injured.
Flake also said that he and other lawmakers had assisted local medical personnel in carrying one of the injured truck passengers to an ambulance.
Some accounts said there were two people on the truck, WBAL reported.
“We’re fine, but our train hit a garbage truck. Members with medical training are assisting the drivers of the truck,” Rep. Greg Walden tweeted,
Rep. Roger Marshall tweeted that he was performing CPR on the train conductor, who was believed to be the person killed in the collision. He also tweeted that the truck occupants were “injured badly.”
WABC reported that the train was partially derailed.
“Local law enforcement is investigating the incident and crews are inspecting equipment for damage. The train originated in Washington, D.C. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available,” Amtrak said in a statement.
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