The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating Wednesday’s train crash in Crozet, an accident that delayed Republican Senators and Congressmen en route to a retreat at the Greenbrier Resort.
Sarah Evancho, a Methodist minister who lives near the railroad tracks in Crozet, heard what she thought was an explosion at around 11:20 in the morning. "I was in my kitchen, and I heard the boom ."
She headed out to see if she could help the men in the truck. "One was dead when I arrived, and the other one was breathing but not conscious," she said.
One of those caring for the victims was Dr. Roger Marshall, a freshman Congressman from Kansas. “We obviously had two victims in pretty bad shape,: Marshall told reporters.
Five other people were taken to UVA’s medical center with less serious injuries.
Neighbors say there had been problems with the crossing gates at the intersection.
The chartered train was carrying Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, from Washington to the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia when it hit a garbage truck about 20 miles west of Charlottesville. Neighbor Gary Blackwell says paramedics arrived quickly, and security personnel left the train to insure the safety of passengers.“First responders – everybody was here in no time," Blackwell said. "I saw I guess the capitol force that was with them. Everybody had guns and looked like they were trying to protect somebody important, so it got my curiosity up to see who was on here.”
The most serious injuries involved three men in a Time Disposal truck. Congressman Roger Marshall joined four other doctor-lawmakers in providing first aid. “We were all just riding along like anyone would be a heard a big bump, and someone yelled, 'Are there any physicians available?’ so I sprinted down and obviously had two victims in pretty bad shape."
Marshall said some people on the train sustained minor injuries, and three were taken to UVA’s medical center for treatment.
