LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles City Hall was evacuated Friday afternoon after a car crashed into the steps of the building, with the driver displaying a sign referencing President Donald Trump and asking for help, officials said.
Police responded to reports of a traffic collision just after 4 p.m. and were working to make contact with the driver, according to Charles Miller, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department. The circumstances that led to the crash were not immediately clear.
Video footage from news helicopters showed the driver in the front seat of the vehicle with a cardboard sign displayed in the window that read, “I need ur help” along with a reference to President Trump. The exact nature of the driver’s request was not disclosed by authorities.
There were no immediate reports of injuries from the incident, police confirmed. However, city officials opted to evacuate the building as a precautionary measure.
“We’re trying to make contact with the driver right now,” Miller said during the initial response to the incident.
LA Mayor Karen Bass said she had been briefed on the situation and confirmed the evacuation decision. “City Hall is being evacuated out of an abundance of caution,” Bass said in a post on social media platform X.
“I want to thank all first responders who are at the scene — my office will continue to monitor the situation,” the mayor added.
The incident disrupted operations at the historic City Hall building, which serves as the headquarters for city government and houses the mayor’s office, city council chambers, and various municipal departments. City Hall is located in the Civic Center district of downtown Los Angeles.
Authorities have not released information about potential charges or whether the crash was accidental or intentional. The investigation is ongoing.
City Hall employees and visitors were cleared from the building while police assessed the situation and worked to safely resolve the standoff with the driver.
