A train carrying Republican members of Congress to a legislative retreat collided with a vehicle in western Virginia Wednesday morning.
The train crashed in Crozet, Virginia, about 15 miles west of Charlottesville.
The crash involved an Amtrak train carrying legislators who were traveling to The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. The train appeared to collide with a truck transporting garbage.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Trump was monitoring developments of the accident.
“The President has been fully briefed on the situation in Virginia and is receiving regular updates,” she said in a statement. “There is one confirmed fatality and one serious injury. There are no serious injuries among members of Congress or their staff. Senior Administration officials are in regular contact with Amtrak and state and local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by this incident.”
Photos taken in the aftermath of the accident showed a metal container that appeared to have been on the truck on its side next to the train with debris strewn throughout the area alongside the tracks.
A number of lawmakers tweeted about the crash in the aftermath, sharing pictures and noting that those aboard the train were generally uninjured. Amtrak later confirmed that there were no reported injuries to passengers or crew members aboard the train and the National Transportation Safety Board said it was “gathering information” about the incident.
Alabama Rep. Don Bacon also said that he was on the train and “okay.”
The cause of the collision was not immediately known.
The status of those within the truck was not immediately clear, but Rep. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., an obstetrician, tweeted that he was helping those who were injured. Several lawmakers tweeted that they were praying in the aftermath of the accident.
The GOP retreat was set to begin Wednesday and Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to address the gathering at 7 p.m.
President Donald Trump was expected to attend a two-hour lunch with the group on Thursday.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
