A train carrying GOP legislators to retreat in West Virginia has hit a truck. Oklahoma Senator James Lankford and Representative Tom Cole were on board and are unhurt.
A train carrying GOP House members to retreat in West Virginia has hit a truck. A GOP aide said no lawmakers were injured in accident involving train carrying members of Congress to Republican meeting.
CBS News reports the crash took place near Charlottesville, Virginia. Oklahoma Senator James Lankford quickly tweeted that he is uninjured.
Oklahoma GOP Representative Tom Cole was also on the train and said a person on the truck may have been injured. Emergency workers were on the scene.
Cole says he’s not aware of any injuries on the train. A GOP aide speaking on condition of anonymity because the aide was not authorized to speak publicly says no lawmakers were injured.
Cole says he believes the accident occurred near Charlottesville, Virginia.
Rep. John Faso, a New York Republican, who was on the train that crashed, said he was able to see the truck that hit the train, and that he was told that injuries were expected from people in the truck, not train.
“There was (what) looks like a tractor trailer carrying trash that was hit by the train,” Faso, who said he was in the third car of the train, told CNN.
“I think everyone on the train is OK,” Faso said. “I don’t know that for sure, it’s a long train. But most of the concern is for the people outside.”
That source said members “hit the deck.”
Republican members of Congress were on their way for a retreat at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia starting Wednesday and ending Friday. Vice President Mike Pence, who was not on the train, is scheduled to speak to members later Wednesday and President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the event tomorrow.
The train left from Union Station in Washington earlier Wednesday.
