A Missouri man has been charged after crashing a U-Haul truck near the White House.
On Monday night, a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers in Lafayette Square.
NEW VIDEO: Chris says he was walking home from his run on the mall when he witnessed uhaul driver ram the barricade at Lafayette Park near White House a second time.
— angie goff (@OhMyGOFF) May 23, 2023
"I decided it was time to get the hell out of there" he says
📹: @itszaboji
Stay with @fox5dc #breaking #dc pic.twitter.com/hE3JoRCFV5
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement on Monday the incident occurred shortly before 10 p.m.
“There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation,” he added.
After midnight, Guglielmi tweeted a preliminary investigation found the driver “may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square.”
The truck has been deemed safe by @DCPoliceDept & preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square. Charges will be filed by the United States Park Police with investigative support from the #SecretService.
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) May 23, 2023
WUSA’s Troy Pope shared a picture of what appeared to be a Nazi flag laying on the ground, and wrote, “Investigators pulled what appears to be a Nazi flag out of the U-Haul, but they haven’t provided any further details.”
NEW: Investigators pulled what appears to be a Nazi flag out of the U-Haul, but they haven’t provided any further details.
— Troy Pope (@troycpope) May 23, 2023
Here’s what we know: https://t.co/cXt81Ji2NA pic.twitter.com/jBsb1uPJA3
CNN’s Ryan Nobles tweeted the suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula of Chesterfield, Missouri.
Kandula reportedly made threatening statements against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after crashing the U-Haul truck.
CBS News notes no weapons or explosives were found in the truck.
“The man didn’t show up on any watch lists. He didn’t appear to have any significant criminal record, according to checks done overnight,” it added.
Kandula has been hit with several charges including threatening “to kill/kidnap/inflict harm on a President/VP/family member.”
He was also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, destruction of federal property, and trespassing.