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Image: Emergency personnel work at the scene of a train crash in Crozet

U.S. news

At the scene: Train carrying GOP lawmakers strikes garbage truck

A chartered train carrying Republican lawmakers to a retreat collided with a trash truck in Virginia Wednesday morning.

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Image: An Amtrak passenger train carrying Republican members of Congress is seen after colliding with a garbage truck in Crozet, Virginia

Debris is scattered next to the track after an Amtrak train collided with a garbage truck in Crozet, Virginia, on Jan. 31, 2018. 

— Justin Ide / Crozet Volunteer Fire Department via Reuters
Image: Train carrying GOP members hits truck

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake described feeling a “big impact” during the crash and then making his way to help one of the injured. He had been traveling with his wife and 18-year-old son in one of the front cars of the train.

“I knew there were going to be bad injuries, so I worked my way back thinking they might need people to help carry people to ambulances, and they did,” he said, calling the accident a “terrible scene.”

— Rep. Jeff Denham / EPA
Image: Emergency personnel walk toward an Amtrak passenger train

Emergency personnel at the scene. 

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that one person had died and another was seriously injured.

No members of Congress or their staff were hurt, she said.

 

 

— Rep. Greg Walden / via AP
Image: Emergency personnel work at the scene of a train crash in Crozet

The crossing where the crash occurred was equipped with flashing lights as well as gates on both sides of the track, sources told NBC News.

 

— Zack Wajsgrasu / The Daily Progress via AP
Image: One of the injured is carried across train tracks to an ambulance after a train carrying members of Congress collided with a garbage truck in Crozet, Virginia

Emergency first responders and passengers carry one of the injured to an ambulance.

— Justin Ide / Crozet Volunteer Fire Department via Reuters
Image: The wreckage of a garbage truck lies beside an Amtrak passenger train after a collision in Crozet

The wreckage of the garbage truck lies beside the Amtrak passenger train after the collision.

— Drone Base / via Reuters
Image: First responders work at the scene where an Amtrak passenger train carrying Republican members of Congress collided with a garbage truck in Crozet, Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a Go-Team of investigators to the scene of the accident.

— Justin Ide / Crozet Volunteer Fire Department via Reuters
Image: Passengers watch as emergency personnel operate work at the scene of a train crash

Passengers watch as emergency personnel work on the scene.

— Zack Wajsgrasu / The Daily Progress via AP
Image: Train carrying GOP members hits truck

Flake said the front car of the train derailed during the crash.

— Rep. Greg Walden / via EPA
Image: First responders work at the scene where train carrying Republican members of Congress collided with garbage truck in Crozet, Virginia

The train was carrying House and Senate Republicans to the retreat in West Virginia when it hit the truck. 

"It was a sudden impact, a loud noise and everyone was jolted,” Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida said on MSNBC.

— Justin Ide / Crozet Volunteer Fire Department via Reuters
Image: Emergency personnel work at the scene of a train crash

House Speaker Paul Ryan was on the train but was not injured, a source told NBC News. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was not on the train, a spokesperson said.

Related: Train carrying GOP Congress members hits garbage truck, one dead

— Zack Wajsgrasu / The Daily Progress via AP
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