Suspect arrested after ramming car into White House barricade

A suspect was taken into custody late Tuesday night after crashing a vehicle into a barricade near the White House, according to the U.S. Secret Service. “At approximately 10:37 pm, an individual drove a vehicle into the Secret Service vehicle gate located at 17th & E St, NW, in Washington, DC. The individual was arrested & the vehicle was assessed and deemed safe. Our investigation into the cause of this collision is ongoing," the agency said in a statement.

The driver’s identity and possible motive have not yet been released. Officials confirmed there were no injuries and that the vehicle posed no explosive or hazardous threat after inspection.

The crash temporarily shut down traffic in the area as federal agents and local law enforcement secured the scene. The gate at 17th and E Street Northwest is one of several heavily fortified access points surrounding the White House complex.

This is not the first security-related incident near the White House this year. In March, a man was shot and critically injured by Secret Service officers after allegedly brandishing a firearm near 17th and G Streets NW—just a few blocks from Tuesday night’s crash. The suspect in that case reportedly drove into the area and refused commands to drop his weapon before being shot by agents.

Incidents involving vehicles striking security barriers around the White House are rare but not unprecedented. Authorities are continuing to investigate whether the latest crash was intentional or accidental.