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Hice unharmed in train-truck crash
Congressional Republicans en route to retreat in W.Va.
Hice Presides
U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., presides over the House of Representatives floor debate on the budget framework for tax reform at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday morning, Oct. 26, 2017, in a screen grab from C-SPAN.
David Clemons
Updated: Jan 31, 2018, 5:36 PM
Published: Jan 31, 2018, 5:27 PM

U.S. Rep. Jody Hice was not hurt Wednesday when a train in which he was a passenger collided with a trash truck in Virginia.

Hice, of Greensboro, was riding with other Republicans lawmakers to a retreat when the crash happened late Wednesday morning.

The collision happened in Crozet, Virginia. The chartered Amtrak train was going to West Virginia from Washington, D.C. No passengers or crew members were injured.

“I am OK following the train collision,” Hice said. He said he was “grateful for the swift action by my colleagues and first responders as they work to assist the injured.

“Please continue to pray for everyone involved.”

Nadgey Louis-Charles, spokeswoman for Hice, said the second-term congressman was on board but OK.

“Thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved,” Louis-Charles wrote in a text message to The Covington News.

Amtrak officials said local law enforcement would investigate the crash, and crews were inspecting equipment for damage.
April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB
Kate Verity
Published: Apr 4, 2025, 10:29 PM

NEWTON COUNTY — Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, a head-on collision on Highway 212 left two young adults dead and a third hospitalized.

Joe Navarro, 21, was driving the vehicle and Breanna Smith, 18, was in the passenger seat. Katie New, 20, sat between them.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle lost control while going around a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided head-on with a box truck. The crash report shows that their vehicle traveled another hundred feet after impact before coming to a stop. It spun, ended up facing the opposite direction on the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Navarro and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. New was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Her current condition is not known. 

Navarro, Smith and New were not believed to be wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The driver of the box truck was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

This is an ongoing story. The News will post updates as they are made available.