Montana Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte were aboard a chartered train in rural Virginia Wednesday that was involved in a fatal accident with a garbage truck. Congressman Gianforte and Senator Daines were not injured in Wednesday morning’s accident. But the truck’s driver was killed and a passenger critically injured.
Amtrak reports two train crew members and two passengers were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The charter was carrying dozens of GOP lawmakers to a policy retreat in West Virginia when it slammed into the truck.
"I was sitting in my seat and had a Diet Coke on my tray table doing some reading," Daines said. "Suddenly, there was a loud bang and a jolt. My Diet Coke flew into the aisle-way. There were some people who were walking in the aisle that were thrown to the ground."
Daines says as soon as the train came to a stop after the impact, several GOP lawmakers who are also physicians disembarked to help the victims.
"One of those congressmen was Brad Wenstrup. He was one of those first responders. They were working on one man who was then determined to be deceased. They went to the next man who was severely injured. Brad was trying to clear airways and doing his very best to try to provide first aid until the medics arrived."
About 100 Republican lawmakers were on the train at the time of the accident.
"It's a time to pray and to be reminded of those who are in great need and do all we can to help them both physically as well as with prayers," said Daines.
Congressman Greg Gianforte and his wife Sue were in the train car directly behind Daines’. Both were uninjured.
By early Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers were boarding buses to resume their trip.
