The driver of a car that struck an SUV in President Joe Biden’s motorcade Sunday night was charged Monday morning with driving under the influence and “inattentive driving,” authorities said.
Reporters at the scene captured Biden appearing startled as the collision occurred near his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, with reports saying that Secret Service agents rushed to get Biden into another SUV not involved in the crash.
The collision damaged both vehicles but did not injure anyone.
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In a statement to CNN, Wilmington police spokesperson David Karas characterized the crash, which happened amid heavy rain, as an “accidental collision.”
“Wilmington Police have determined that this was an accidental collision, and have charged the driver,” Karas said, adding that the suspect is a 46-year-old Wilmington man.
The man wasn’t named in the statement, but The New York Times reported Monday, citing Karas, that the man allegedly behind the wheel is James Cooper.
After striking the motorcade, the Times reported that Cooper was swarmed by Secret Service agents, who had their weapons drawn. Images from the scene showed a man in the crashed car with his window down and hands up.
The incident occurred at 8:09 p.m. Sunday and didn’t stop Biden from being driven back to his home in Wilmington without further incident, said a statement from Steve Kopek, a spokesperson for the Secret Service.
Biden was in Delaware to greet his campaign staffers at a holiday happy hour, according to CNN. He was reportedly discussing poll numbers with reporters when a loud boom came from an SUV in his motorcade that was blocking the street.
Joe Biden reacts after a vehicle crashed into a Secret Service SUV that was blocking the a street in Wilmington, Delaware.
Reuters/Nathan HowardPhotographers captured Biden, seemingly startled, staring in the direction of the incident before he was reportedly whisked away to join Jill Biden in a separate SUV.
“There was a loud bang,” a White House pool report said Sunday night, referencing the crash, “and POTUS was standing outside the vehicle with a surprised expression on his face.”
