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A train carrying Republican Congressmen has derailed in Virginia after smashing into a truck, leaving one person dead.

Another casualty is seriously injured after the Amtrak train collided with what is believed to be a dump truck.

No one on the train suffered serious injuries.

The train was carrying politicians from Congress in Washington DC to their annual retreat in West Virginia.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has confirmed one person has died and another was seriously injured.

She added: "There are no serious injuries among members of Congress or their staff."

(Image: Twitter/ @RepJeffDenham)

Congressman Mark Walker said: "I'm about four cars down from the truck, (I can see) several helicopters in the air.

"There's about 200 to 250 people on the train."

He said: "One of the ladies actually said she saw one of the bodies went flying on the ground from the impact of the truck.

(Image: Twitter)

"So certainly our prayers and thoughts are with those people."

An aide to Representative Roger Marshall, a qualified doctor, tweeted how he was helping the injured.

President Trump is expected to attend the retreat later this week and he has not publicly commented on the crash.

Speaker of the house Paul Ryan, who was aboard the train, was not injured.

A statement from train company Amtrak said: "An Amtrak train came into contact with a vehicle that was on the tracks at 11.20am in Crozet, VA.

(Image: Twitter)

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"There are no reported injuries to passengers or crew members.

"Local law enforcement is investigating the incident and crews are inspecting the equipment for damage."

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to the scene.

An official with Albemarle County Fire & Rescue has declined to comment immediately on the number of injuries or deaths.

Crozet is about 110 miles southwest of Washington, and 90 miles east of White Sulphur Springs, where members of congress were headed.

The crash happened at approximately 11.20am local time.

(Image: Twitter)

The serious crash comes a day after President Trump's State of the Union speech on Capitol Hill.