Terrible news is just breaking that an Amtrak train carrying members of Congress has been struck!
The train was carrying Republican members of Congress to the Party’s retreat in West Virginia. Politico just broke the news:
#BREAKING: Train carrying members of Congress hits truck https://t.co/yhg2wrbGGO pic.twitter.com/msiqyQa4AM
— POLITICO (@politico) January 31, 2018
Breaking: An Amtrak train chartered by Republicans headed to the GOP retreat in WV has crashed. pic.twitter.com/D3OvgeUs9V
— Debra Heine (@NiceDeb) January 31, 2018
From the report:
An Amtrak train transporting members of Congress and staff to a Republican retreat in West Virginia struck a truck near Charlottesville, Virginia Wednesday morning, according to multiple sources. No serious injuries were reported on the train. The status of the driver of the truck could not be determined, but the person was not believed to be injured either.
Wow. That was a close call. Thank God nobody was injured in the crash.
NEWS — The train carrying GOP lawmakers to the retreat in West Virginia has collided with a dump truck. Initial reports indicate everything is OK.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 31, 2018
Republicans are gathering this week at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia for a congressional retreat. This meeting comes on the heels of President Trump’s well-received State of the Union speech, which was praised by Americans across the country. Republicans attending are expected to outline their legislative agenda for the year, and hash out ways to ensure President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda is passed.
President Trump is even scheduled to make an appearance at the gathering this Thursday. From a local news report:
According to The White House, Air Force One is expected to arrive around 11:45 a.m. Thursday at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg.
Earlier on Monday, Rep. Evan Jenkins confirmed the president will be appearing at the Republican Congressional Retreat at The Greenbrier Resort.
How exciting! Thank goodness nobody was harmed on the train that was just struck.
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UPDATE – More information on the accident is available:
GOP MN Rep Jason Lewis tells Fox he may have whiplash & a “tiny bit of a concussion.” Says there “are lots of minor injuries on the train.”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 31, 2018
Based on convos with lawmakers on train, it was traveling at around 45-50 MPH – the speed it had been traveling at. Did not slow down – truck was trying to make it over tracks as guard rails came down.
— Ali Rogin (@AliABCNews) January 31, 2018
UPDATE 2 – One fatality is now being reported:
NEW: Spokeswoman for the Congressional Institute, which is sponsoring the retreat, confirms the following to @NBCNews:
– 1 fatality
– 1 critically injured
– 1 member sent to the hospital
– 1 member & 1 staffer being examined
– First aid being offered on train— Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaNBCNews) January 31, 2018
