Virginia Amtrak Crash: GOP Rep. Bilirakis On Train; Not Injured

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA — A train carrying Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Daniel Webster, Ted Yoho and other GOP Congress members to a retreat crashed into a tractor-trailer Wednesday in Virginia, causing minor injuries on board and reportedly killing one person on the truck and critically injuring another, according to authorities and media reports.

Bilirakis tweeted: "Due to media stories, just wanted to confirm that myself and the GOP conference are traveling on a train that has been involved in an accident. While I am fine, some people have sustained injuries. First responders are on scene and I am praying for everyone’s quick recovery."

Webster, of Clermont, tweeted that he was on the train and was not injured. Yoho, of Gainesville, tweeted: "Carolyn and I are both okay. Security and doctors on board are helping secure the scene and treat injuries."

There were no serious injuries among congressman or their staff, the White House said in a statement. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and is receiving regular updates.

Local media outlets reported that the train crash happened west of Crozet, Virginia, about 15 miles from Charlottesville. The GOP retreat was scheduled to take place in Greenbrier, West Virginia.

Ed O'Keefe, a reporter for The Washington Post, said he spoke to Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake who told him one of the passengers on the truck was killed and two others were injured. Flake and other lawmakers reportedly helped carry one of the injured passengers to an ambulance.

Rep. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas who is also a doctor, performed CPR on the train conductor and helped two people in the garbage truck who were transported to an ambulance, he wrote on Twitter.

The University of Virginia Health System said it had received six patients from the train crash. One patient is in critical condition and four others are being evaluated. One patient has been discharged. Rep. Jason Lewis, a Republican from Minnesota, is in a concussion protocol following the crash, his staff said on Twitter.

In a statement, Amtrak said the train came in contact with another vehicle around 11:20 a.m. Two crew members and two passengers were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, Amtrak said.

"Local law enforcement is investigating the incident and crews are inspecting equipment for damage," Amtrak said in an emailed statement. "The train originated in Washington, D.C. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available."

Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, told The Washington Post that the garbage truck looked like it had been cut in half.

"We can see garbage strewn around and we can see the back half of the truck," Lee told the paper. "There was a feeling of an impact and you could feel we had hit something. It took us maybe a quarter mile to stop."

Rep. Carlos Curbelo, a Republican from Florida, said in an interview with MSNBC that there was a sudden impact, a loud noise and everyone was jolted.

"It was just uncomfortable for a few minutes and as we started realizing that everyone was OK I think that people started feeling better," Curbelo said.

Rep. Bradley Byrne, a Republican from Alabama, said he himself was okay but security and doctors were on board treating injuries. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, also tweeted about the crash and said he was okay.

Rep. Jeff Denham, a Republican from California, tweeted a photo of the front of the train.

NBC News reported that House Speaker Paul Ryan, who was on board the train, was not injured.

"Just learned of the crash involving the train carrying Republican Members of Congress to their retreat today," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter. "Praying that all are well both on the train and off."

Patch has compiled a list of GOP representatives on board the train. We will update this list as we hear of more members of Congress who were on board.

1. Kansas Rep Roger Marshall
2. Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne
3. Tennessee Rep. Phil Roe
4. Florida Rep. Daniel Webster
5. Florida Rep. Chris Curbelo
6. New York Rep. Dan Donovan
7. New York Rep. Lee Zeldin
8. Texas Rep. Michael. Burgess
9. Ohio Rep. Rep. Brad Wenstrup
10. Texas Rep Michael Williams
11. Texas Rep. Pete Sessions
12. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
13. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy
14. Oregon Rep. Greg Walden
15. California Rep. Jeff Denham
16. Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry
17. Florida Rep. Ted Yoho
18. Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy
19. Wisconsin Rep. Glenn Grothman
20. Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan
21. Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt
22. Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole
23. Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick
24. New York Rep. John Faso
25. MIssouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler
26. Georgia Rep. Rick Allen
27. Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter
28. Georgia Rep. Drew Ferguson
29. Georgia Rep. Jody Hice
30. Georgia Rep. Austin Scott
31. Illinois Rep Mike Bost
32. New Jersey Rep. Leonard Lance
33. Indiana Rep. Mike Bost
34. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake
35. Ohio Sen. Rob Portman
36. Texas Rep. Michael McCaul
37. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon
38. Illinois Rep. Randy Hultgren
39. Illinois Rep. Peter Roskam
40. Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman
41. North Carolina Rep. Robert Pittenger
42. Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry
43. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis
44. North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson
45. Indiana Rep. Larry Bucshon
46. Kentucky Rep. James Comer
47. Pennsylvania Rep. Keith Rothfus
48. New Jersey Rep. Tom MacArthur
49. Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis
50. Arizona Rep. Martha McSally
51. Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar
52. Arizona Rep. Dave Schweikert
53. Arkansas Rep. French Hill
54. Michigan Rep. Fred Upton
55. Michigan Rep. John Moolenar
56. Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell
57. Michigan Rep. Mike Bishop
58. Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg
59. Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga
60. Indiana Rep. Susan Brooks
61. Kansas Rep. Ron Estes
62. Texas Rep. John Culberson
63. Arkansas Rep. Steve Womack
64. Texas Rep. Bill Flores
65. Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst
66. Iowa Rep. Steve King
67. Iowa Rep. David Young
68. Indiana Sen. Todd Young
69. South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds
70. West Virginia Rep. Alex Mooney
71. Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts
72. Montana Sen. Steve Daines
73. Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford
74. North Carolina Rep. Mark Walker
75. California Rep. Ed Royce
76. Tennessee Rep. Chuch Fleischmann
77. Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers
78. Georgia Rep. Karen Handel
79. Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert
80. Georgia Rep. Barry LouderMilk
81. Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers
82. Texas Rep. Brian Babin
83. North Dakota Rep. Kevin Kramer
84. Alabama Rep. Martha Roby
85. Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers
86. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan
87. Ohio Rep. Bob Latta
88. Texas Rep. Mike Conaway
89. New York Rep. John Katko
90. Maine Rep. Bruce Poliquin
91. Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan
92. Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen
93. Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis
94. Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador
95. Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr
96. California Rep. David Valadao
97. California Rep. Ken Calvert
98. Colorado Rep. Scott Tipton
99. Texas Rep. Kevin Brady
100. Texas Rep. Pete Olson
101. Mississippi Rep. Gregg Harper
102. Florida Rep. Neal Dunn
103. Texas Rep. John Carter
104. Florida Rep. Brian Mast
105. California Rep. Steve Knight
106. California Rep. Dana Rohrbacher
107. California Rep. Mimi Walters
108. Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer
109. South Carolina Rep. Tom Rice
110. South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to the scene of the crash.

Image courtesy Rep. Greg Walden