(Image source from: wane.com)

AZ:
A chartered train suffered a head on collision with a garbage truck in Virginia on Wednesday. It was carrying 4 Republican lawmakers from AZ. These people were on their legislative retreat when the train crashed. The driver of the garbage truck was killed along with one passenger and one other passenger is critical while the members of congress and their families are unhurt.

In a press release, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated, “The train was carrying House and Senate Republicans to a retreat in West Virginia when the crash occurred. No members of Congress or their staff were injured”

The deceased passenger of train are identified as Christopher Foley, 28. And 6 other patients are being treated at UVA medical centre.

Sen. Jeff Flake, and Reps. Martha McSally, David Schweikert, and Paul Gosar were on board the Amtrak on their way to a Republican retreat in West Virginia when the crash happened. "There was no slowing; it was like 'boom,'" Gosar said. "The closer you were, the more of an impact there was. It did derail the engine," Flake said. "We were coming out of a kind of real narrow area with lots of trees and rocks, and it took the top part of the truck off," Gosar said. "Two gentlemen were thrown." "I thought after that time, 'I never wanted to experience a day like this again,' and unfortunately it came too soon," Flake said. "Thank God for the first responders and the staff and members of Congress and others who were quickly able to provide first aid and medical care," McSally said.

The National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, sent a team of investigators to the scene and they may take upto a year for completing their investigation.

Amtrak officials said, “the crash happened at 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, Virginia, in Albemarle County near Charlottesville. By 1:15 p.m., the train had left Crozet and was heading back to Charlottesville”

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted "We thank God. We thank God today because we know it could have been much worse. To you and your families, thank you for your service to America, and God bless you all. Getting regular updates on the Amtrak crash involving members of Congress and their families. Praying for all involved & grateful for the swift action of first responders. @POTUS and I will continue to monitor closely. I’m heading to WV later today”

By Minu Manisha