Driver Who Ran Into Biden's Motorcade Is Charged

President, first lady unharmed in incident Secret Service says was unintentional
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 18, 2023 12:00 AM CST
Updated Dec 18, 2023 10:55 AM CST
Car Plows Into SUV in Biden Motorcade
Secret Service Police, left, and security personnel question the driver of a vehicle that plowed into a parked SUV that was part of President Biden's motorcade Sunday night while the president was leaving a visit to his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
UPDATE Dec 18, 2023 10:55 AM CST

A Delaware driver who crashed into a Secret Service vehicle that was part of President Biden's motorcade has been charged with DUI, reports the New York Times. A rep for the Wilmington Police Department says James Cooper's sedan struck the SUV as Biden was speaking to reporters after leaving his campaign HQ in downtown Wilmington. The Times reports Biden was captured "appearing surprised" in photos taken before agents whisked him into his vehicle; Jill Biden was already inside it, reports CNN. No one was injured and the driver surrendered at the scene. Cooper, 46, has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and inattentive driving.

Dec 18, 2023 12:00 AM CST

President Joe Biden and his wife Jill were unharmed Sunday night when a car plowed into an SUV that was part of the presidential motorcade. The Secret Service confirmed the collision was unintentional, CNN reports. The president and first lady had just left Biden's campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, where they'd held a holiday happy hour event with reelection staffers, and President Biden was answering questions from reporters when a silver sedan collided with the SUV, Reuters reports. The SUV was part of Biden's security detail and was positioned at the intersection across from the entrance to the campaign HQ, closing off the intersection, Fox News reports.

Secret Service officers surrounded the sedan, and the male driver could be seen on TV footage being taken from the scene with his hands in the air. Jill Biden was already in the couple's vehicle, and the president was quickly escorted there to join her; they were returned safely home to Wilmington. A Secret Service spokesperson later confirmed that "there was no protective interest associated with this event and the President's motorcade departed without incident." CNN notes there was heavy rain in the area at the time. Fox News says Biden was "visibly stunned" by the crash. (More President Biden stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X