Car crashes into south barrier of U.S. Capitol building
A car with Florida license plates crashed into a barrier by the south side of the U.S. Capitol building early Friday.
The male driver and sole occupant of the vehicle has been taken into custody by U.S. Capitol Police, and he has been identified as Antonio Pierorazio. The car, which is registered to Pierorazio, has been cleared with no hazardous material found, and it has been towed from the barricade to an off-site location.
The car, a maroon Nissan Altima, came from Independence Avenue and made a quick turn into the House-side barrier. U.S. Capitol Police and the D.C. Fire Department arrived on the scene soon after the crash.
The vehicle did not enter the Capitol's secure perimeter.
Witnesses at the scene Tweeted about the crash:
Whoa. Dude just drove full-speed into barricade at Longworth & Capitol full speed. I saw the whole thing. Crazy
— jmerzie (@jmerzie) July 31, 2015
Just saw someone crash a car into a barrier by US Capitol near Longworth building
— Minna (@minnaleaf) July 31, 2015
Streets in the immediate vicinity of New Jersey and Independence Avenue were temporarily closed, but by early Friday afternoon, the Capitol Police said they had completed their investigation.