Amtrak crash: Christopher Foley killed, GOP Rep Jason Lewis treated for concussion
The individual killed when an Amtrak train, carrying dozens of GOP members of Congress to a retreat, struck a garbage truck has been identified as a Louisa County man named Christopher Foley.
“Albemarle County just released name of man that died in trash truck hit by Amtrak train: Christopher Foley, 28, from Louisa. @CBS6″ – @MelissaCBS6
Foley, 28, died from injuries sustained from the crash. Rep. Roger Marshall of Kansas, a doctor, performed CPR on the truck’s passenger, but he could not be revived.
photo/ twitter @jeffDenham
“I think that someone died, someone’s in serious situation, very seriously ill, I think we did everything we can do,” Marshall said. “So you know we’ll pray for their families.”
The chartered Amtrak train carrying Republican members of Congress to a retreat hit a garbage truck on the tracks west of Washington just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Outgoing Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake was on board when the incident occurred about 125 miles southwest of Washington.
“We were going at a pretty good speed and all of sudden we heard, obviously, a loud crash and felt an impact,” Flake said. “Everybody around us got thrown on the train car.”
The lawmakers, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, were traveling with their families en route to a luxury resort in West Virginia for a three-day retreat. Members immediately tweeted out details of the crash and photos showing wreckage from the truck and damage to the train’s engine.
“Today’s incident was a terrible tragedy,” Ryan tweeted later. “We are grateful for the first responders who rushed to the scene and we pray for the victims and their families. May they all be in our thoughts right now.”
“I am safe and was not on board the train in West Virginia. Thank you to those who have reached out and please pray for the safety of all involved,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, tweeted.
“Our train heading to the GOP Retreat in West Virginia has been involved in an accident. I am safe but first responders are treating minor injuries on the train & treating the truck drivers. Praying….,” Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma tweeted.
“We’re fine, but our train hit a garbage truck. Members with medical training are assisting the drivers of the truck,” Rep. Greg Walden, an Oregon Republican, tweeted.
In addition to Foley’s tragic death, at least six were injured and taken to UVA Medical Center with the unidentified driver of the truck being in critical condition. Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis was evaluated for symptoms of a concussion.
“No one was braced for the impact, so that was probably the most startling aspect of it,” he said.
Hours after the accident, the train was able to take lawmakers to nearby Charlottesville, where they were transferred to buses to the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
The annual policy retreat was scheduled to feature speeches from President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
