Two U.S. Secret Service Armored Vehicles Used to Protect VP Joe Biden, Hits & Kills Male Pedestrian

Two U.S. Secret Service armored vehicles used to protect Vice President Joe Biden struck and killed a pedestrian in Temple Hills early Wednesday morning. U.S. Park Police said the vehicles were reportedly traveling together from Andrews Air Force Base at about 2:30 a.m. when the pedestrian, an adult male, was hit at the intersection of Suitland Parkway and Naylor Road in Temple Hills. The vice president was not being transported in the vehicles at the time of the accident. He had already returned home when this tragedy occurred. 

The drivers stayed on the scene and rendered first aid until police and rescue officials arrived, said Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan. Police said that pedestrian was transported to Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly with multiple critical injuries and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The vehicles, part of a fleet used to protect the vice president, were used to whisk Biden during his trip to Fort Lewis, Wash., and were heading back to a garage at the time of the incident. The armored cars were transported to and from Fort Lewis on military planes. The vice president was there to speak at a memorial service Tuesday for seven soldiers who were killed Oct. 27 in Afghanistan when their vehicle exploded after being struck by an improvised explosive device.

Police have not released the pedestrian's identity pending notification of family. Park Police were still investigating the incident and had not determined a cause.