A car driver was arrested late Tuesday night after crashing a vehicle into a security gate outside the White House complex in Washington, prompting a brief lockdown-style security check in the area.
According to a statement from the United States Secret Service, the incident occurred around 10:37 pm near the corner of 17th and E Streets, a short distance from the south-western side of the presidential residence. Officers immediately responded, cordoning off the site while inspecting the vehicle for possible threats.
Officials said the driver “drove his vehicle” into the gate and was taken into custody on the spot. No injuries were reported, and the Secret Service confirmed that the vehicle was declared safe after a joint inspection with Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department.
Driver in custody, probe underway
Footage from the scene, now circulating widely on social media, shows Secret Service personnel examining the damaged car, measuring impact points and taking photographs for the ongoing investigation. The agency has not released the driver’s name or disclosed any potential motive behind the crash.
Officials added that White House operations remained unaffected, and President Donald Trump, who was inside the residence at the time was safe. The road near the affected gate was temporarily closed until the car was removed.
The site lies near the headquarters of the American Red Cross. Authorities said similar crashes had been reported at White House gates earlier this year, in January and May, and the latest incident will be reviewed to determine whether it was accidental or deliberate.
