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White House access restricted after car hits sign near Lafayette Park
Developed over time first seen 8 hours ago
A driver took a sedan over the kerb and into an information sign near Lafayette Park, prompting the Secret Service to briefly restrict access around the White House. The car did not reach the mansion’s gates, and no injuries were reported; President Trump was at the White House at the time.
The driver was arrested and taken away in handcuffs, while a separate man was arrested after jumping a security barrier about two blocks away. Authorities said they were not aware of a link between the incidents. The lockdown lasted about 20 minutes, and the driver’s identity and the reason for the crash were not immediately known.
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In short
- A car struck a sign near Lafayette Park.
- The White House lockdown lasted about 20 minutes.
- No injuries or link to a separate arrest were reported.
How this story developed
- 34 minutes ago No further change was reported: the driver’s identity and the cause of the crash remained unknown, while President Trump was at the White House preparing for meetings.
- 7 hours ago New details placed the crash on a pedestrian-frequented stretch north of the White House, where the road layout limits vehicle acceleration, as the Secret Service moved journalists indoors while officers detained the driver.
- 7 hours ago A driver veered a sedan over the kerb into an information sign by Lafayette Park, briefly restricting access around the White House; no injuries were reported, and the driver and a separate man who jumped a security barrier were arrested, with no known link between the incidents.
Explained simply
The White House is the US president’s official home and workplace, in central Washington, DC. The Secret Service protects the president and the White House, and can restrict access to nearby streets and buildings when assessing a possible security risk.
Lafayette Park lies just north of the White House and is open to the public, with busy pedestrian routes around it. The area is also close to government buildings and is regularly used by journalists covering the president.
An incident near the White House can prompt extra security measures even if a vehicle does not reach the gates. Such responses are intended to protect people nearby and allow officials to establish what happened.
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Originally published by New York Post as “Secret Service puts White House on lockdown after car rams through secure area with Trump home in DC”.