U.S. Rep. Martha McSally said there was a "pretty strong jolt" and then the lights went out when the chartered train carrying dozens of GOP lawmakers to a Republican policy retreat in West Virginia struck a garbage truck about 15 miles west of Charlottesville, Virginia.
McSally was in the second-to-last rail car at the time of the crash that killed one man in the garbage truck while another man was seriously injured. No one on the train was injured.
Martha McSally
After the crash, the lights immediately went out on the train but McSally, the two-term Republican from Southern Arizona, said everyone in her car remained calm as calls went out to open the emergency exits in order to render aid to the victims in the truck.
When the Amtrak train eventually stopped, McSally said she had a close-up view of the tragic accident with the wreckage just outside of her window.
"It was an awful scene," McSally said.
While McSally prayed, she was quickly joined by several members of Congress. They recited prayers as they watched as congressional staffers and members of Congress — including Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake — ran out to attend to the victims.
She said the focus should be on the victims, not her.
"I would encourage everyone to pray for the victims and their families," she said.
