Amtrak GOP Charter Train hits garbage/dumpster truck in VA

Heard on the news about an Amtrak train hitting a tractor trailer truck in Virginia. The difference here is that key congressional officials were apparently coming back from President Trump’s State of the Union speech which I watched last night who were onboard.

Anyone have any more details as to what happened?

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Here is a breaking news article from The Hill

Amtrak rep. released statement confirming no injuries to anyone on board train, however CNN reports one fatality on the ground (presumably somebody on truck).

They showed a pic of the leading engine, looks like a nasty collision (it was a heritage unit leading FYI, #145. There was also a trailing unit #4)

This train was a charter carrying members of US Congress to a retreat at the Greenbrier in WV. Impact was with a garbage truck. Lead unit is P42 Phase 3 Heritage unit# 145, trailing unit P42# 4. Lead unit derailed, rest of train remained on track. Train will be pulled back to Charlottesville for deboarding. Very minor injuries on train, one reported fatality on the truck.

Nearest source: http://www.newsplex.com/content/news/Tr ... 64503.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

According to police, the crash occurred near Marymart Farm Road and Lanetown Road, west of Crozet.

...

The train was a specially chartered Amtrak train that left Union Station around 8:30 a.m. and hit a garbage truck around 11:20 a.m. just west of Crozet.

The Washington Post coverage. NTSB enroute.

If the crash occurred at the Lanetown Road Crossing; that would then be crossing Number 224704E according to the FRA

Primitive crossing with no gates... on an s-curve curve in the road... surrounded by thick trees and brush... adjacent to an intersection.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Croze ... -78.700575

An Amtrak GOP special to Greenbrier hit a trash truck at a grade crossing this morning with truck fatality.


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Ohh no...... talk about some bad irony here.

Sounds like bumps and bruises at worst for those on the train, thankfully. The truck driver however didn't make it. I can't tell for sure if there are gates at the crossing based on the footage I saw but there are certainly lights and bells. Heritage unit 145 was leading the train and will undoubtedly be joining Heritage unit #66 at Beech Grove.

The driver made it. Unfortunately, one of the trash men didn't as he and a co-worker were flung from the rear of the truck. In video on MSNBC the crossing gate was down.

Some online sources (social media) are saying the truck was literally parked on the tracks, I hope this wasn't an intentional act. Looking at the crossing itself I'm not too sure how the driver could not have seen or heard the train coming. I assume he also had no situational awareness like all recent incidents.

This accident will probably have an adverse effect on trains 50(30) and 51(31) which are scheduled to pass thru Crozet VA this afternoon. This is the Buckingham Branch RR.

Not to make light or fun of the situation, but stupid is as stupid does.