Morning crash in Capitol Hill raises questions about military presence in the city
A traffic accident on Wednesday morning in Washington D.C. involved a National Guard military vehicle and a civilian car, leaving one person injured.
According to official reports, the crash occurred shortly after 6:00 a.m. at the intersection of 8th Street SE and North Carolina Avenue in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The military vehicle, a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (MATV) weighing up to 16 tons, collided with a private vehicle while part of a convoy of five D.C. National Guard units.
Immediate response and medical attention
After the collision, members of the convoy and a D.C. Metropolitan Police cruiser stopped to assist the driver. The civilian was rescued from the car and transported to a hospital with minor injuries, local emergency services confirmed.
A video shared on social media shows the MATV stationed near an SUV at the crash site.
Background of the National Guard deployment
The incident comes amid the ongoing D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force security operation, launched following a federal declaration of a “crime emergency” in the nation’s capital. Alongside the D.C. National Guard, troops from Tennessee, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Ohio have also been deployed to Washington.
Since the beginning of the operation earlier this month, authorities have reported more than 550 arrests and the seizure of at least 76 firearms.
Community reactions
The accident sparked criticism among local residents. Samuel Pastore, a neighborhood commissioner in Capitol Hill, voiced concerns about the presence of military vehicles in residential areas, especially during the back-to-school season.
As of now, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has not issued any statement regarding the crash.
