The aftermath of the accident. NBC
An Amtrak train carrying dozens of Republican lawmakers to a retreat in West Virginia collided with a garbage truck on the morning of January 31, 2018, killing one person and injuring several others. The crash occurred near Crozet, Virginia, as the special chartered train made its way from Washington, D.C., to the Greenbrier Resort, where GOP members of Congress were scheduled to attend their annual policy retreat.
According to authorities, the truck had been attempting to cross the tracks when it was struck by the oncoming train. The impact tore apart the truck and caused debris to scatter along the rail line. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene, while his passenger sustained critical injuries. Five additional individuals were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, though none of the lawmakers or their staff members suffered serious harm.
Inside the train, passengers described feeling a sudden, violent jolt followed by chaos as luggage fell and people were thrown from their seats. Lawmakers quickly realized that the train had collided with a vehicle and rushed to assist. Several members of Congress, including Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona and Representatives Bill Cassidy and Brad Wenstrup, who are both physicians, joined first responders at the crash site to help the injured.
Representative Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican and also a medical doctor, immediately went to the front of the train to aid the crew. Marshall performed CPR on the train’s conductor, who had been knocked unconscious by the collision, before turning his attention to the truck’s occupants. Sadly, the driver could not be revived. “We did everything we could, but he was already gone,” Marshall told reporters later that day, his voice reflecting both the shock and the somber reality of the moment.
Senator Flake, who was among the first to exit the train, described the scene as “horrific,” noting that many of his colleagues instinctively switched into emergency mode. “There was debris everywhere, and people were screaming,” he recalled. “We had doctors, nurses, and first responders all working together within seconds.” The quick action of those onboard likely prevented further loss of life.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation into the crash, focusing on whether the crossing gates and signals were functioning properly at the time. Early reports indicated that the gates were down when the truck entered the crossing, raising questions about whether the driver had attempted to bypass them.
In the aftermath, lawmakers continued on to their retreat later that day, though the mood was subdued. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who was also aboard the train, issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims and gratitude to the first responders and colleagues who rendered aid. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” Ryan said. “Our hearts go out to the families of those affected.”
The accident served as a stark reminder of the dangers at railroad crossings and the unpredictability of life, even for those accustomed to tight schedules and political battles. What began as a routine journey for dozens of lawmakers quickly became a moment of shared humanity, marked by courage, compassion, and loss.
