A man drove a vehicle into the U.S. Secret Service vehicle gate outside the White House on Tuesday night before being arrested, the USSS said.
The big picture: President Trump was inside the White House when the crash happened. While the building wasn't locked down, the Secret Service told Axios in a statement first shared with the New York Times that some closures around the complex would remain temporarily "as teams investigate the cause and manner of the collision."
The latest: A Secret Service spokesperson said charges for Unlawful Entry and Destruction of Government Property against the driver were currently pending.
- "We appreciate the swift actions of our Uniformed Division officers and are grateful for the Metropolitan Police Department for their prompt response," the spokesperson added in their email.
Driving the news: The incident occurred at the security gate that's on the corner of 17th and E Streets near the south side of the White House Grounds at 10:37pm ET, per a Secret Service post on X late Tuesday.
- USSS spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said via email Wednesday morning that the driver was taken to an area hospital for a mental health assessment.
Zoom in: "DHS privacy policy prohibits the release of names until at which point charges are formally filed by the office of the United States attorney," Guglielmi noted.
- The vehicle was assessed by Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department and deemed safe, per a statement from USSS spokesperson Melissa McKenzie on Wednesday morning.
- "Additional information will be provided upon conclusion of the investigation," she added in the email.
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' Tuesday night request for comment. The Metropolitan Police Department referred Axios to the USSS for comment.
Go deeper: Secret Service finds hunting stand with line of sight to Trump's Air Force One in Florida
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.
