5 months ago
WASHINGTON (WUSA) - U.S. Capitol Police are investigating a bizarre incident that ended with a vehicle crashed into a government building Thursday night.
Pete Piringer, spokesperson for DC Fire and EMS says the unusual chain of events started around 7:30 p.m. when U.S. Capitol Police attempted a traffic stop of a late model Cadillac in southwest DC. Witnesses told officials the Cadillac slowly drove away as it was approached by the police cruiser. In the process of attempting to evade the police, the driver of the Caddy crashed into another vehicle at 13th Street and Independence Avenue, southwest.
The Caddy drove away from the crash but ended up plowing into the visitor's entrance of the Yates building, located at 201 14th Street southwest. Piringer says the Caddy drove through scaffolding, construction barriers, and a plywood safety wall that covered the building. The Yates building houses the USDA and the United States Forest Service offices. DC Police officials say the building suffered no structural damage.
Piringer says police tried to restrain the man in place and were eventually able to remove him from the vehicle. The driver was treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The female driver of the vehicle hit by the Cadillac at 13th Street and Independence was also transported to a local hospital as a precaution.
Piringer says Metropolitan Police and other law enforcement officials swept the suspect vehicle for weapons and explosives. DC Police officials say nothing was found.
The incident is under investigation by U.S Capitol Police.
