GOP: “An Amtrak train taking U.S. lawmakers and their staff to a Republican retreat in West Virginia struck a garbage truck near Charlottesville, Virginia, on Wednesday morning, killing the driver of truck, according to multiple sources. No serious injuries were reported on the train, although some passengers were hurt.
The White House confirmed that there had been one fatality and one serious injury, with multiple GOP sources telling a local TV station that the truck driver had died and that other occupants of the truck were hurt.
Three patients were taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center as a result of the crash, the hospital announced, with two additional patients en route. Their conditions ‘are still being evaluated,’ UVA said.
Rep. Jeff Denham of California, chairman of the House Transportation rail subcommittee, said only six people sustained minor injuries aboard the train, including two engineers…
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump had been ‘fully briefed’ on the crash and had spoken to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) about the accident.
Republican officials said the planned GOP retreat would continue, with lawmakers expecting shuttles to Greenbrier in West Virginia…
Emergency personnel and security officials, as well as members of Congress who are physicians, were aiding injured passengers. Rep. Roger Marshall’s office said the Kansas Republican, an obstetrician and gynecologist, was among those treating people.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced that it was sending a team to the scene to investigate.
Amtrak officials confirmed that a couple of crew members had sustained minor injuries.”
-John Bresnahan and Cristiano Lima, “Train carrying members of Congress hits truck, killing driver,” Politico, Jan. 31, 2018 02:17pm