By Smartencyclopedia Newsroom *

On Monday night, the driver of a box truck that collided with security barriers on Lafayette Square, near the White House grounds, was apprehended by authorities in Washington, DC.

According to a spokesperson from the US Secret Service, the truck was cleared as safe by the District of Columbia police. The US Park Police, with assistance from the Secret Service, will be responsible for pressing charges.

Anthony Guglielmi, the Chief of Communications for the US Secret Service, stated on Twitter that there were no injuries to Secret Service or White House personnel, and an investigation into the cause and circumstances of the crash is ongoing.

According to a tweet by Anthony Guglielmi, it is suspected that the driver intentionally struck the security barriers. The truck has been confirmed as safe.

As a result, certain roads and pedestrian walkways around the park were closed. The Secret Service requested the evacuation of the nearby Hay Adams hotel, as reported by the Washington Post.

Live video footage from WUSA television showed law enforcement officers and a dog approaching the box truck, which was stopped alongside steel bollards.

A remote-controlled robot was used to open the truck’s rear door, revealing a dolly but no apparent cargo. The driver reportedly struck the barriers a second time after the initial crash, according to a witness report cited by WUSA.

A video posted on social media captures the U-Haul truck colliding with the barriers, purportedly for the second time, although Reuters cannot verify its authenticity.

The Washington Fire Department received a call for a suspicious package investigation at 9:40 PM, and they are prepared to assist law enforcement in their investigation, as stated by spokesperson Vito Maggiolo.

The Washington Metro Police also provided assistance at the scene, according to the Washington Post’s police spokesperson.

Source: Reuters