2nd LD: One dead in Virginia train collision, no serious injuries among lawmakers: White House

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The White House confirmed that one person was dead and no lawmakers were seriously injured in a collision between a trash truck and a chartered train in U.S. state of Virginia on Wednesday.

"There is one confirmed fatality and one serious injury," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "There are no serious injuries among members of Congress or their staff."

The victim's identity was not released.

Sanders said that President Donald Trump has been fully briefed on the situation and is receiving regular updates.

The remarks were made after an Amtrak-run chartered train carrying Republican lawmakers to a GOP retreat in U.S. state of West Virginia collided with a trash truck earlier in the day.

A statement from Amtrak said the crash occurred at 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, Virginia.

Senior Administration officials are in regular contact with Amtrak and state and local authorities, according to the White House. "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by this incident."

Several members of Congress on the train confirmed the collision in different tweets earlier and that they were not injured.

"Security and doctors on board are helping secure the scene and treat injuries," Representative Bradley Byrne tweeted.

The front half of the truck was crushed, and the train was partially derailed, according to those lawmakers and their staff.

The lawmakers were scheduled to spend the next few days at the resort for their annual issues conference. Enditem