Train Carrying Members of Congress Crashes into Garbage Truck

Train Carrying Members of Congress Crashes into Garbage Truck
SWANA Releases Statement Concerning the Accident and Advocating Industry Safety

Silver Spring, MD – An Amtrak training carrying members of Congress crashed into a garbage truck this morning in Virginia. One fatality of a solid waste collection worker has been confirmed.

David Biderman, Executive Director and CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), released the following statement concerning the accident:

“The Solid Waste Association of North America sends its deepest sympathy to the victims involved in today’s tragic incident in Virginia. The investigation is ongoing as to how the crash occurred and we owe it to all involved not to assume causes. However, there are several incidents each year in which garbage trucks and trains collide, sometimes because of a malfunction, other times because of poor judgement. Too often, these incidents have tragic consequences. Because this incident involved a train carrying members of Congress, it is a national and international story. The identity of the train’s passengers must not overshadow that incidents where solid waste workers are killed on the job occur far too frequently; this is the sixth occurrence in the United States in the month of January. SWANA is committed to improving the waste industry’s safety record and preventing tragic incidents like today’s through education, communication, and training. Nothing we do is more important.”

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About SWANA:

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is an organization of more than 9,500 public and private sector professionals committed to advancing from solid waste management to resource management through their shared emphasis on education, advocacy and research. For more than 50 years, SWANA has been the leading association in the solid waste management field. SWANA serves industry professionals through technical conferences, certifications, publications, and a large offering of technical training courses. For more information, visit swana.org.