The Secret Service arrested the driver of a van truck late Monday after his vehicle collided with security barriers along a park near the White House.
The U-Haul truck crashed on the north side of Lafayette Park at 16th Street shortly before 10 p.m., Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
The crash happened a good distance from the gates of the White House, but the incident resulted in road and sidewalk closures, and the nearby Hay-Adams Hotel had to be evacuated.
U.S. Park Police arrested the driver, who was not immediately identified, and “a preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally hit the Lafayette Square security gates,” Mr Guglielmi said.
The driver was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless driving of a motor vehicle; threatening to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm on a president, vice president, or family; destruction of federal property; and trespassing, according to Fox 5.
Investigators searched the truck and found nothing dangerous inside, although they removed a Nazi flag. The red, white and black flag was placed on the sidewalk and can be clearly seen in footage released by Fox 5.