Amtrak Train With GOP Members Crashes In Virginia; 1 Dead

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA — An Amtrak train carrying Republican members of Congress to a GOP retreat crashed into a tractor-trailer Wednesday in Virginia, causing minor injuries onboard and reportedly killing one person on the truck and critically injuring another, according to authorities and local media reports.

There were no serious injuries among Congressman or their staff, the White House said in a statement. The White House confirmed there was one fatality and one serious injury. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and is receiving regular updates.

Among those on the train were Michigan lawmakers Fred Upton, John Moolenar, Paul Mitchell, Mike Bishop, Tim Walberg and Bill Huizenga, who all reported via Twitter that they were safe. Rep. Jack Bergman reported via Twitter that he was not on the train. A spokesman for Rep. David Trott told The Detroit News he was not either.

"The train carrying GOP members to our retreat had a collision," tweet Upton. "Amey and I are both OK. Docs and security on board are helping secure the scene."

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 person was killed. 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.

In a statement, Amtrak said the train came in contact with another vehicle around 11:20 a.m. and there were no reported injuries to passengers or crew members.

"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."

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.

• Kansas Rep Roger Marshall
• Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne
• Tennessee Rep. Phil Roe
• Florida Rep. Daniel Webster
• Florida Rep. Chris Curbelo
• New York Rep. Dan Donovan
• New York Rep. Lee Zeldin
• Texas Rep. Michael. Burgess
• Ohio Rep. Rep. Brad Wenstrup
• Texas Rep Michael Williams
• Texas Rep. Pete Sessions
• Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
• Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy
• Oregon Rep. Greg Walden
• California Rep. Jeff Denham
• Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry
• Florida Rep. Ted Yoho
• Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy
• Wisconsin Rep. Glenn Grothman
• Wisconsin Paul Ryan
• Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt
• Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole
• Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick
• New York Rep. John Faso
• MIssouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler
• Georgia Rep. Rick Allen
• Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter
• Georgia Rep. Drew Ferguson
• Georgia Rep. Jody Hice
• Georgia Rep. Austin Scott
• Illinois Rep Mike Bost
• New Jersey Rep. Leonard Lance
• Indiana Rep. Jim Banks
• Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake
• Ohio Sen. Rob Portman
• Texas Rep. Michael McCaul
• Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon
• Illinois Rep. Randy Hultgren
• Illinois Rep. Peter Roskam
• Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman
• North Carolina Rep. Robert Pittenger
• Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry
• North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis
• North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson
• Indiana Rep. Larry Bucshon
• Kentucky Rep. James Comer
• Pennsylvania Rep. Keith Rothfus
• New Jersey Rep. Tom MacArthur
• Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis
• Arizona Rep. Martha McSally
• Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar
• Arizona Rep. Dave Schweikert

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to the scene of the crash.
The crash happened just a day after Trump delivered his first State of the Union speech, addressing a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill. Republicans were headed to the party retreat where they will focus on the upcoming midterm election, according to a schedule obtained by Politico. Republicans face a tough midterm election as Democrats riding on anti-Trump sentiment and unpopular GOP policies are aiming to take back control of at least one of the chambers of Congress.
The crash comes seven months after a shooting at a GOP baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia that critically injured Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise. At Tuesday's State of the Union, Scalise was honored by Trump and received a standing ovation.

Virginia State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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

Patch will update this breaking news story.

Photo courtesy Rachel Bade, used with permission