Virginia Amtrak Crash: Rep. Phil Roe And Wife Onboard But OK

CROZET, VA -- Tennessee Republican Rep. Phil Roe was on an Amtrak train along with dozens of fellow GOP lawmakers that collided with a truck in rural Virginia as the congressmen were on their way from Washington to West Virginia for a retreat.

Roe confirmed on Twitter that while he and his wife were onboard, both are OK.

NBC 29 reports that one person was killed and at least one person is in critical condition. An Albemarle County police dispatcher confirmed to Patch they were responding to a train derailment. 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.

"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."

Additional reporting by Feroze Dhanoa

Photo via Rep. Greg Walden, used with permission