Secret Service Arrests Driver After Vehicle Crashes Into White House Barrier

An explosive ordnance team cleared the vehicle after the early-morning crash, with an investigation ongoing and charges pending.

The White House in Washington on Jan. 6, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

A driver has been detained after crashing a vehicle into a temporary security barrier near the White House early Wednesday morning, prompting a rapid response from U.S. Secret Service officers and Washington police, officials said.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:26 a.m. on March 11, when an individual drove a vehicle into a barrier in the vicinity of Madison and H Streets NW, according to a statement from a U.S. Secret Service spokesperson.

“U.S. Secret Service uniformed police officers immediately apprehended the driver of the vehicle,” a spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement.

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team was called to the scene to examine the vehicle after the crash. The team later cleared the vehicle and declared the area safe.

“The individual is currently being interviewed by the Secret Service and criminal charges are pending,” the Secret Service spokesperson said, adding that all road closures related to the incident have been lifted.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told The Epoch Times that officers responded shortly after the crash to assist the Secret Service with what was initially treated as a suspicious vehicle incident near the White House perimeter.

“The United States Secret Service is leading this investigation,” an MPD spokesperson said via email.

No injuries were reported in connection with the crash or the law enforcement response.

There have been several similar incidents in recent years involving drivers ramming vehicles into security barriers around the White House complex.

In October 2025, authorities arrested a driver after a vehicle crashed into a security gate along the southwest perimeter of the White House near 17th and E Streets NW. At the time, officials said the driver was taken into custody following the crash while officers secured the area and investigated the incident.

A separate episode occurred in January 2024, when an SUV struck an exterior gate of the White House complex during the evening hours. Secret Service personnel detained the driver, and authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president and securing the White House complex, routinely deploys temporary and permanent barriers to prevent unauthorized vehicles from approaching sensitive areas.

The agency has faced heightened scrutiny over security protocols in recent years, particularly following the July 2024 assassination attempt against then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In that incident, a gunman fired multiple shots toward the stage, grazing Trump’s right ear before being killed by law enforcement. Two rallygoers were injured in the incident, and a third, 50-year-old retired firefighter Corey Comperatore, was killed.

The attack prompted congressional investigations and an internal Secret Service review of protective procedures. The review identified several security lapses surrounding the Butler attack, including communication failures between federal agents and local police, shortcomings in how suspicious activity was reported, and gaps in site planning and coordination.

The agency said it has since taken steps to strengthen information sharing and operational procedures for protecting high-profile officials.

Rachel Acenas contributed to this report.