In a concerning incident, a motorist crashed into the gates of the White House for the second time this year, resulting in the loss of the driver's life. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when a speeding car collided with an outer gate of the US president's home and workplace. Authorities have emphasized that the crash is being treated as a "traffic crash" and not an intentional or politically motivated act.

The crash took place shortly before 10.30pm, prompting the implementation of security protocols by the presidential and treasury security agency. As officers cleared the vehicle, they discovered the driver deceased. The driver, identified as a male adult by Washington DC police, has not been publicly identified. The investigation is focusing solely on the incident as a traffic crash.

The accident occurred approximately 1,000 feet away from the White House at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and the southeast corner of the complex, near the Treasury, the Ellipse, and the South Lawn. It is noteworthy that this is the second incident of its kind this year. In January, a driver was apprehended for crashing a car into an exterior gate of the White House. Reports later revealed that the individual was dealing with mental health issues.

This incident also follows a previous incident where a Delaware man accidentally crashed into President Joe Biden's motorcade, resulting in drunk-driving charges. Additionally, in May last year, a man driving a U-Haul truck collided with security barriers around Lafayette Square, located across the street from the White House. The driver was found to have a Nazi flag in his possession.

In response to previous security breaches, the Secret Service had increased the height of the protective ringfence around the White House from 6ft (1.8m) to 13ft (4m) during the presidency of Donald Trump in 2019.

Authorities continue to investigate the recent crash, focusing on the circumstances surrounding the incident and the possible factors that led to the tragic fatality. The White House remains secure, with security measures promptly implemented following the incident.