Photo Credit:Fox5dc
Authorities arrested a man late Tuesday night after he crashed his car into a White House security gate while President Donald Trump was inside the residence, officials confirmed.
According to a statement from the U.S. Secret Service, the incident occurred at approximately 10:37 p.m. on October 21 at the intersection of 17th and E Streets NW in Washington, D.C. “An individual drove his vehicle into the Secret Service vehicle gate located at 17th and E St, NW, DC. The individual was immediately arrested by U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officers,” the agency said.
Investigators from the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department searched the car and determined it was safe. Authorities stated that the driver, whose identity has not yet been released, was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. “Charges for Unlawful Entry and Destruction of Government Property are currently pending,” a Secret Service spokesperson added.
Officials confirmed that Trump, who was inside the White House at the time, was never in danger, and no threat was made toward him. The Secret Service clarified that the presidential complex was not placed on lockdown following the crash. However, the road leading to the gate remained closed while police removed the vehicle.
Photographs from the scene showed the damaged car near the western entrance, surrounded by law enforcement vehicles. Bomb detection robots were also deployed to inspect the vehicle before it was cleared.
The Secret Service said its investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether the incident was intentional or accidental. No details about the driver’s motive have been released.
Tuesday’s event adds to a series of similar incidents near the White House in recent years. In May 2023, a man drove a rented U-Haul truck into a security barrier and later told authorities he intended to harm then-President Joe Biden. Another crash in May 2024 resulted in a fatality when a driver slammed into a different security post.
