Tragedy struck outside the White House this week as an elderly tourist lost his life in a hit-and-run incident involving a driver evading the Secret Service.
The collision resulted in multiple injuries, including a 13-year-old girl.
According to the Secret Service, uniformed agents attempted to halt a blue Honda Accord at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday for driving with an expired license.
However, the driver refused to comply and instead fled the scene, striking several individuals in the process.
According to Lt. Paul Mayhair, a spokesman for the Secret Service division, “The suspect indicated that they would stop the vehicle, but then quickly fled southbound.”
Mayhair also revealed that driver “then crossed a red traffic signal and struck multiple individuals in the crosswalk” outside the White House.
In addition, the spokesman said that as the suspect attempted to flee, the agents “observed the collision and immediately responded to render aid.”
Bing Wong, a 75-year-old tourist visiting from Philadelphia, sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Regrettably, he succumbed to his injuries, as confirmed by the US Park Police on Thursday.
Among those injured was a 13-year-old girl who, fortunately, managed to walk away from the scene after receiving treatment for minor abrasions, as reported by the police.
Chief Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi announced on Thursday that the “Police are working to locate the suspect and our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family.”
On the same day, spokesman Lt. James Dingeldein assured that the US Park Police leads the investigation and remains “actively pursuing all available leads in order to positively identify the driver of the car involved.”
Furthermore, sources revealed that authorities had visited the residence of a local individual associated with the vehicle involved in the fatal crash, but the person was not found at the premises.
The Washington Post disclosed that the car in question had accumulated $720 in unpaid speeding fines, although the identity of the listed owner was not disclosed.
Law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to apprehend the driver responsible for this tragedy. The Secret Service and local authorities are diligently investigating the incident, with hopes of bringing the individual to justice and providing closure for the affected families.
In the wake of this incident, authorities are urging anyone with information about the hit-and-run driver or the blue Honda Accord involved in the collision to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
