In a startling incident on Sunday evening, a car collided with a parked SUV that was part of President Biden’s motorcade near his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. Fortunately, neither President Biden nor First Lady Jill Biden sustained any injuries in the incident.
The sedan struck a U.S. Secret Service vehicle, which was being used to close off intersections as President Biden was walking from the campaign office to his waiting armored SUV. The visibly stunned President was taken aback as the sedan attempted to continue into a closed-off intersection.
Quick to respond, Secret Service personnel swiftly surrounded the vehicle with weapons drawn and instructed the driver to put his hands up. President Biden was safely escorted into his car, where First Lady Jill Biden was already waiting. The couple was then driven home promptly.
First Lady Jill Biden greeted onlookers with a “happy holidays” as she left the campaign office just before the collision occurred. Earlier, President Biden, responding to a reporter’s question about his poll standings, remarked, “They’re the wrong polls.” Moments later, the collision took place, prompting Biden to exclaim, “woah” before being rushed into his vehicle.
The SUV that was struck appeared to be stationary adjacent to the motorcade, while the sedan showed noticeable front-end damage. Reporters on the scene were swiftly evacuated.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed the incident, stating that a vehicle in the motorcade was hit by another car as President Biden was entering his vehicle. Secret Service spokesperson Steve Kopek emphasized that there was “no protective interest associated with this event,” indicating that the crash was not intentional. Heavy rain had been reported in Wilmington at the time.
In a statement, Kopek said, “Today, at approximately 8:09 p.m., a Secret Service vehicle securing the President’s motorcade route was struck by another vehicle in Wilmington, DE. There was no protective interest associated with this event, and the President’s motorcade departed without incident.”
This incident is not the first involving a Biden motorcade. In 2020, as President-elect Biden, his motorcade collided with another car in Wilmington, resulting in minor injuries. In 2015, an NYPD motorcycle cop escorting then-Vice President Biden was injured in a crash while traveling across the Triborough Bridge.
The Wilmington Police Department is handling further inquiries related to the recent incident. President Biden’s motorcade continued without further complications, and the President and First Lady are reported to be in good health.