The driver of a trash truck that collided with a train carrying GOP members of Congress Wednesday in Virginia may have driven past a railroad gate in an effort to beat the train as it headed to a GOP retreat.
A passenger in the truck was killed, while the driver was hospitalized with serious injuries and another passenger in the truck was critically injured. Some traveling on the train were also injured, including Rep. Jason Lewis of Minnesota, who was treated at a hospital for a concussion.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the refuse truck driver who witnesses say ignored train signal warnings and weaved past crossing gates, according to CNN. Investigators will be looking at video recorded by the train’s camera.
The tracks are ordinarily used for freight trains which travel around 30mph. The Amtrack train in Wednesday’s collision had been traveling around 60mph. It had been chartered by GOP members for a retreat in West Virginia.
Investigators looking into Wednesday's deadly crash involving a train carrying GOP members of Congress are focusing on the actions of the driver of a truck the train struck, a source with knowledge of the investigation tells CNN https://t.co/ND1YtaC9zG pic.twitter.com/b35dp9YyOH
— CNN (@CNN) February 1, 2018
