A man is facing several charges after he reportedly drove a U-Haul truck into security barriers near the White House in D.C., the United States Park Police (USPP) said.
Shortly after 10 p.m., Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri, crashed the truck into security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Square at 16th Street, Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said.
Took this photo of the White House and immediately heard a crash behind me.
â Benjamin Berger (@BenB005) May 23, 2023
Figured someone may have accidentally crashed until the U-Haul backed up and once again tried to break through the barriers.
Shoutout to the Secret Service Police for their quick response and action! pic.twitter.com/qIq3PbBJFj
Guglielmi said the “driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers”, according to their preliminary investigation.
When 7News arrived at the scene, a swastika flag was spotted near the U-Haul truck.
Authorities said there were no reported injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel.
7News spoke to a bystander who says he was trying to get his car to get home but the roads were blocked off due to the police activity.
“I'm coming back home from vacation, just trying to get back to my house in D.C., Damilola Arowolaju said. “Hopefully it's some form of mistake. It's kind of wild.”
A number of pedestrian roadways were closed off during the investigation but have since reopened.
The truck was deemed safe by the Metropolitan Police Department.
USPP said the following are the charges Kandula faces:
- Assault with a dangerous weapon
- Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
- 18 USC 879(a)(2) Threaten to kill/ kidnap/ inflict harm on a President/ VP / family member
- Destruction of federal property
- Trespassing
