Speeding driver dies after crashing car into White House gate

A driver has died after crashing into the White House perimeter fence on Saturday night as officials say it was 'a traffic crash' with 'no threat to the White House.' 

The car smashed into the gates of the White House at a 'high rate of speed' just before 10.30pm. 

Security rushed to the car and tried to give the driver aid, but he was already dead. 

Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said 'there was no threat to the White House' and 'no threat or public safety implications'. 

The driver has not yet been identified but was an adult man and no one else was injured in the crash. 

The car crashed into the gates about 1,000ft from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the Treasury department. 

Officials rushed to help the driver but he was dead when they reached him. 

The secret service said: 'Security protocols were implemented as officers cleared the vehicle and attempted to render aid to the driver who was discovered deceased.'

In a statement on Sunday Guglielmi said: 'Limited traffic closures remain in effect as Secret Service teams, investigate a fatal vehicle crash that occurred at an exterior perimeter gate by the White House. 

'There is no threat or public safety implications.'

 He added: 'Shortly before 10.30pm on May 4th a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed collided with an outer perimeter gate on the White House complex.

'Security protocols were implemented as officers cleared the vehicle and attempted to render aid to the driver who was discovered deceased. 

'There was no threat to the White House. 

'The fatal crash portion of this will be turned over to the Washington Metropolitan Police Department Crash Investigation Unit and the Secret Service investigation continues.' 

It is the second car to crash into the White House so far this year. 

In January officials arrested a man who crashed into a different exterior gate. 

He was taken into custody and thought to be suffering mental health issues. 

Last May a man driving a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers across the street from the White House. 

Police discovered he was carrying a Nazi flag and he was identified as Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri.