A chartered train carrying dozens of GOP lawmakers to a Republican policy retreat in West Virginia struck a garbage truck Wednesday morning in a rural Virginia town.
No lawmakers or aides were reported injured, but the White House said one person was killed and another was seriously hurt. Lawmakers said the fatality appeared to be someone who was in the truck.
U.S. Rep. Ron Estes of Wichita and his wife, Susan, were on the train. Estes said in a tweet that “Susan and I are OK – praying for those injured.”
Rep. Roger Marshall of Great Bend, a doctor, was among several lawmakers who rendered aid to those injured in the crash. According to his Twitter account, he, along with Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee, performed CPR on the garbage truck driver.
Marshall’s wife, Laina, also was on the train but was not injured. Neither were Sen. Pat Roberts and his wife, Franki.
“Our prayers go out to everyone who is injured,” Roberts said on Twitter. “We are very grateful for all those who rushed to help.”
Rep. Kevin Yoder of Kansas City was not on the train. Sen. Jerry Moran was in Wichita and El Dorado on Wednesday morning, conducting town hall meetings.
It is unknown whether Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Topeka was on the train.
Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods said the crash happened around 10:20 a.m. in Crozet, Virginia. Crozet is about 15 miles west of Charlottesville.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, was on the train and was unhurt, aides said.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump was briefed on the accident.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by this incident," Sanders said.
KMUW News Director Tom Shine contributed to this report.
