Virginia Amtrak Crash: GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock Not Aboard

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA—Rep. Barbara Comstock was not on board when an Amtrak carrying members of Congress to a GOP retreat crashed in Albemarle County, Virginia Wednesday.

"I am ok, I was driving to the Greenbrier when I heard the news. Praying for the injured," Comstock tweeted. The GOP retreat was scheduled to take place in Greenbrier, West Virginia.

Reports indicate the train crashed into a truck. Albemarle County police dispatcher confirmed to Patch they were responding to a train derailment.

Ed O'Keefe, a reporter for The Washington Post, said he spoke to Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake who told him one of the passengers on the truck was killed and two others were injured. Flake and other lawmakers reportedly helped carry one of the injured passengers to an ambulance. The crash happened west of Crozet, Virginia, about 15 miles from Charlottesville.

Five other GOP members of Congress from Virginia -- Dave Brat, Bob Goodlatte, Tom Garrett, Scott Taylor, and Rob Wittman -- have said on Twitter that they weren't on the train. There is not yet any word on whether the remaining Virginia GOP member of Congress -- Morgan Griffith -- was on the train.

More on the Amtrak crash:

• Virginia Amtrak Crash: GOP Members On Board; Injuries Reported
• Virginia Train Crash: The Worst Amtrak Crashes In History

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