U.S. Park Police identified the driver of a U-Haul truck that rammed into security barriers near the White House as 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula of Chesterfield, Missouri.
The Secret Service detained Mr. Kandula late Monday after the truck crashed into the security barriers along a park near the White House. Investigators searched the truck and found nothing dangerous inside, though they removed a Nazi flag. The red, white and black flag was placed on the sidewalk and can be seen in footage posted by Fox 5.
The U-Haul truck hit the barriers on the north side of Lafayette Park at 16th Street shortly before 10 p.m., Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
The crash was a good distance from the White House gates but the incident prompted road and sidewalk closures, and the nearby Hay-Adams Hotel had to be evacuated.
“Preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square,” Mr. Guglielmi said.
The driver has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, the threat to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm on a president, vice president, or family, destruction of federal property and trespassing, according to the park police.
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• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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