The driver who crashed into a White House fence on Monday around 6 p.m. was arrested after the incident. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi announced on X (formerly Twitter) the arrest of the person driving the vehicle, a silver Cadillac Escalade with a Virginia license plate. He also reported that what happened was being investigated:
Shortly before 6p.m., a vehicle collided with an exterior gate on the White House complex. The driver has been taken into custody & we are investigating the cause & manner of the collision. Expect traffic implications at 15th Street & Pennsylvania Ave & adjacent intersections. pic.twitter.com/n3M7zsFkvm
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) January 8, 2024
The spokesperson reported that during the event, President Joe Biden was not in the building as he was in South Carolina holding a campaign event and that he would later go to Texas.
Traffic closures around the White House
Guglielmi also alerted citizens of possible traffic closures at the intersection of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, the east side of the presidential housing complex that is located near the Treasury Building.
However, two hours later, it was the same spokesperson who again went to X to report that the authorities had removed the vehicle and that, therefore, traffic in the area was returning to normal:
UPDATE: The vehicle has been cleared by Washington DC Police Department and traffic closures will be lifted. Driver remains in custody and our investigation continues. Special thanks to @DCPoliceDept @dcfireems for your unwavering support and partnership.
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) January 9, 2024
It is not the first of similar incidents that have occured in recent months around the White House. In May 2023, a truck also crashed into the security barriers of the presidential residence. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the accident.
