A pre-dawn collision just steps from the White House left a passenger dead early Saturday and ended with Secret Service officers chasing down a fleeing driver, authorities said.
The two-vehicle crash unfolded around 3:30 a.m. at 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. One occupant was ejected from a vehicle and later pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials. The driver of one vehicle took off on foot but was detained by members of the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division and then turned over to U.S. Park Police.
According to WJLA, U.S. Park Police said its Traffic Safety Unit handled the initial investigation and crash reconstruction at the intersection. The agency told the outlet the passenger’s body was taken to the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, while the driver of the second vehicle was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Road closures put in place for the investigation have since been lifted. The suspect who allegedly tried to flee remains in custody while prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office coordinate charges, Park Police told the station.
Secret Service response
The Secret Service Uniformed Division serves as the agency’s permanent police force for the White House complex and nearby streets, routinely staffing checkpoints and security posts near the president’s residence, according to agency materials. The Secret Service’s public brochure on the Uniformed Division notes that officers have police powers on the grounds and are trained to respond to security threats and assist partner agencies during incidents like this. The brochure is available from the agency.
Context: security incidents near 17th Street
The deadly crash lands in the middle of a string of high-profile security incidents around the White House this spring.
On May 23, Secret Service officers exchanged gunfire with a man who opened fire at a checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the AP reported.
And just last month, a driver who bolted from Secret Service during a traffic stop and later caused a deadly crash was convicted in D.C., in a case that also unfolded near the White House.
Investigation and legal next steps
U.S. Park Police said it has assumed responsibility for the full crash investigation after consulting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and that charges in the case are being coordinated with federal prosecutors, according to WJLA.
Officials have not yet released the suspect’s name or the specific charges being considered. The investigation remains active.
