The driver of a truck was detained on Monday night after crashing into security barriers on Lafayette Square adjacent to the White House grounds, a US Secret Service spokesperson said.
“There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation,” Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the US Secret Service, said on Twitter.
Vehicle collision at Lafayette Square: Roadways and pedestrian walkways are closed as teams investigate. pic.twitter.com/4QqNyRoa0T
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) May 23, 2023
Some roads and pedestrian walkways were closed, the Secret Service said.
The nearby Hay Adams hotel was evacuated, Fox 5 television news reported.
The US Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies investigate a rented box truck that crashed into security barriers at Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, US May 22, 2023. (credit: Nathan Howard/Reuters)WUSA television showed live video of a box-type, U-Haul truck stopped alongside a row of steel bollards and uniformed law-enforcement officers approaching the vehicle. A remote-controlled robot pried open the door slightly, revealing a dolly but no other obvious cargo.
Truck hit barriers twice
After initially crashing, the driver hit the barriers a second time, WUSA reported, citing a witness report.
A brief video posted on social media shows a U-Haul slamming into the barriers from a short distance for what the person posting it said was the second time. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the video.
A spokesperson for the Washington Fire Department said a call came in at 9:40 p.m. (0130 GMT) for what was described as a suspicious package investigation.
“All units are standing by to assist law enforcement for anything they need for their investigation,” public information officer Vito Maggiolo said.
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