CROZET, Va. U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, was among dozens of Republican members of Congress on board a train that slammed into a garbage truck in rural Virginia on Wednesday, killing one person in the truck and sending several lawmaker-doctors rushing to help the injured.
No serious injuries were reported among those on the train, an Amtrak charter that set out from the nation's capital with lawmakers and staff for the luxury Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. At least two people in the truck were reported seriously hurt.
The collision took place around 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, about 125 miles southwest of Washington, tearing the truck in two, crumpling the nose of the locomotive and scattering trash alongside the tracks.
"I was up close to the engine when we hit the truck at the crossing," Johnson said. "We passed the truck on our left-hand side.
"We were just sitting there riding along, nothing out of the ordinary, then a loud crash. The train lurched, and we knew we hit something. Then the train came to an abrupt stop.
"I did not see the truck. I didn't know what we had hit. Then Amtrak officials came running down the aisle asking for doctors to help. Several members of the Republican conference who were physicians offered to help."
Johnson was not injured.
He said the lawmakers were headed to an annual policy retreat where they develop legislative strategy to address the needs and concerns of the American people.
House Speaker Paul Ryan was in the same car as Johnson, but they weren't sitting near each other.
Johnson said the conference is going on as planned, but they had to shift the schedule. Lawmakers finished the trip by bus.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to the gentleman who was killed on the truck and the people who were injured," he said.
U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, was not on board the train. He drove from Washington to White Sulfur Springs.
Authorities gave no details on the cause of the wreck, which took place at a crossing protected by gates, flashing lights, bells and warning signs. The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to investigate.
Officials gave varying figures on the number hurt. But Amtrak said two crew members and three passengers were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis' staff tweeted that the first-term congressman was among those taken to the hospital and was being checked for a concussion.
The policy retreat, an annual event, was scheduled to last three days and feature speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.