The White House was placed under a temporary security lockdown on Monday after a silver sedan mounted the pavement and crashed into an informational sign in Lafayette Park, near the US presidential residence in Washington DC.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House when the incident occurred, according to reports. Secret Service agents moved journalists indoors as a precaution, while police ordered the driver to get on the ground.
Video footage circulating online showed the vehicle entering the paved area at the northern end of Lafayette Square and striking a signpost. White smoke was seen rising from the car following the collision.
The driver was detained after a physical confrontation with Secret Service officers and National Guard troops. The US Secret Service described the driver as combative and said the individual was quickly arrested.
Second security incident reported near Lafayette Park
The car crash was not the only security incident reported in the vicinity of the White House on Monday. Around the same time, another individual jumped a barricade near the north-western corner of Lafayette Park and was also arrested.
The Secret Service confirmed that both incidents were under investigation. Authorities were examining whether the two events were connected, although initial reports indicated they were believed to be unrelated.
Nearby roads were closed as security personnel responded to the incidents. The Metropolitan Police Department's bomb squad also searched the vehicle as a precaution and found no hazardous material. The White House lockdown was lifted after approximately 30 minutes.
Driver's motive remains unclear
The identity of the driver and the circumstances that led to the crash, including a possible motive, were not immediately known. Authorities had also not established whether the collision was deliberate.
The intersection's layout makes it difficult for vehicles to gather speed, as approaching traffic has to pass through a single cobblestone lane before making a left turn at a traffic light.
The Secret Service said both incidents remained under investigation.