Train Carrying GOP Lawmakers To Retreat Hits Garbage Truck

A chartered train carrying dozens of GOP lawmakers to a Republican policy retreat in West Virginia struck a garbage truck in a rural Virginia town Wednesday. The White House said one person was killed, and local officials said others were injured.

Lawmakers said the fatality appeared to be someone in the truck. One lawmaker aboard the train, Rep. Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, said the vehicle had been ripped in half. He said he saw a person wrapped in a tarp and said emergency workers appeared to be "putting a body away."

The group included many members of the North Carolina delegation, including Reps. Virginia Foxx, Ted Budd, Mark Walker, and Sen. Thom Tillis, among others. All have confirmed that they were on the train and not injured. 

Our train heading to our annual retreat with members of Congress has been an accident. Looks like smaller injuries at this point on train but serious injuries outside from collision. Apparently, we have hit a large dump truck... Helicopters and security are covering the area. pic.twitter.com/MNlWTocMRQ

— Rep. Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) January 31, 2018

According to Representative Virginia Foxx, members and staff were working on various projects when they heard a thud, and the train slowed to a stop. She says members and staff prayed for everyone involved, and will do so again when they reach their destination.

“The members are very mindful of the people who were injured on the truck," Foxx said. "We're very concerned about them and will continue to be concerned about them.”

Our train headed to West Virginia was involved in an accident with a truck. Everyone on the train appears to be okay. Please join me in praying for those in the truck we collided with.

— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) January 31, 2018

Amtrak spokeswoman Beth Toll said two crew members and two passengers were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries after the incident, which happened about 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, Virginia, about 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of Charlottesville.

Alex Prevost, a University of Virginia health system spokesman, said it had received three patients and two more were on the way. He could not confirm a fatality.

Albemarle County police spokeswoman Madeline Curott also would not confirm a fatality but said three people on the truck were seriously injured.

Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis' staff members tweeted that the first-term congressman was among those taken to the hospital. The tweet from Lewis' account said he was being checked for a concussion because of the impact.

The policy retreat, an annual event, is scheduled to last three days and feature speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. By early afternoon, lawmakers were boarding buses to resume their trip and Pence was still planning to address them later Wednesday.

Authorities have not detailed the sequence of events.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump was briefed on the accident.

"There is one confirmed fatality and one serious injury," but no injuries to lawmakers or their staffs, she said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by this incident," Sanders said.

Rep. James Comer of Kentucky said about 100 Republican lawmakers were on the train when the crash occurred, which made him jump out of his seat.

"I looked out the side of the window and then I could see a truck, just in pieces out the side of the window," Comer said. "It was a garbage truck that was apparently, I would assume, trying to cross the tracks."

Comer said Capitol Police quickly jumped off the train, but came back and asked for any doctors to help. Comer said lawmakers performed CPR on one person.

A GOP aide said the train seemed partially derailed.

This story has been updated from an earlier version to reflect the latest information available.