GOP lawmakers tweet about 'scary' train crash on way to West Virginia retreat

Name: Lawmaker aboard train: Many took a hard hit to the head
Uploaded: 2018-01-31T12:36:58-05:00
Duration: 10 min 14 s
Description: Rep. Sessions describes the injuries to his colleagues after the train they were riding to a Republican retreat collided with a dump truck on the tracks.

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Lawmaker aboard train: Many took a hard hit to the head

Rep. Sessions describes the injuries to his colleagues after the train they were riding to a Republican retreat collided with a dump truck on the tracks.

Politicians took to Twitter minutes after news broke that a train carrying GOP lawmakers to a retreat in West Virginia collided with a dump truck.

Some members were thrown from their seats and at least one person from the truck died, officials told Fox News.

In the aftermath of the wreck, a number of lawmakers, including those who practiced medicine before politics, attended to those with injuries.

Rep. Jason Lewis, R-Minn., told Fox News he had a “little bit of a whiplash” and “maybe a tiny bit of a concussion.”

A number of doctors on board are helping the injured, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., said in a tweet. First responders are also helping secure the scene, Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., added.

"Most members are ok but serious injuries [are] on the ground," Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who says he was on the train during the accident, tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who was also on the train at the time, described the crash as a "scary moment." He confirmed him and his wife, Laura, were safe.

"Today’s incident was a terrible tragedy. We are grateful for the first responders who rushed to the scene and we pray for the victims and their families," House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted in response to the train crash. "May they all be in our thoughts right now."

Here's what other lawmakers had to say about the incident, which took place in Crozet, Va., near Charlottesville, Va.