Virginia Amtrak Crash: Hudson Valley's Faso On Board

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA — A train carrying Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, and other GOP congress members to a retreat, hit a truck in a crash in Albemarle County, Virginia, Wednesday according to members of Congress on the train and local police. NBC 29 reports that one person was killed and at least one person is in critical condition.

A spokeswman for Faso said he was not injured.

An Albemarle County police dispatcher confirmed to Patch they were responding to a train derailment. Local media outlets reported that the train crash happened west of Crozet, Virginia, about 15 miles from Charlottesville. The GOP retreat was scheduled to take place in Greenbrier, West Virginia.

Ed O'Keefe, a reporter for The Washington Post, said he spoke to Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake who told him one of person was killed. Flake and other lawmakers reportedly helped carry one of the injured passengers to an ambulance.

Rep. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas who is also a doctor, performed CPR on the train conductor and helped two people in the garbage truck who were transported to an ambulance, he wrote on Twitter.

In a statement, Amtrak said the train came in contact with another vehicle around 11:20 a.m. and there were no reported injuries to passengers or crew members.

"Local law enforcement is investigating the incident and crews are inspecting equipment for damage," Amtrak said in an emailed statement. "The train originated in Washington, D.C. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available."

Rep. Bradley Byrne, a Republican from Alabama, said he himself was okay but security and doctors were on board treating injuries. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, also tweeted about the crash and said he was okay.

Rep. Jeff Denham, a Republican from California, tweeted a photo of the front of the train.

NBC News reported that House Speaker Paul Ryan, who was on board the train, was not injured.

"Just learned of the crash involving the train carrying Republican Members of Congress to their retreat today," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter. "Praying that all are well both on the train and off."

Virginia State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Patch will update this breaking news story.

Written by Feroze Dhanoa, with additional reporting by Michael Woyton/Patch Staff.

Photo via Rep. Greg Walden, used with permission.