A man unloading a BMW painted by Andy Warhol on the National Mall died Wednesday after a winch gave way and trapped him under the car.
The accident happened just before 3 p.m. near 14th Street and Jefferson Drive SW.
A U.S. Park Police spokesperson told WTOP-FM that the victim, who was not identified, died at the scene from critical injuries after first responders had tried to save his life.
Metropolitan Police officials told WJLA-TV that a winch failed as the man unloaded the 1979 BMW M1 Art Car from a flatbed truck and the car fell on top of him.
The car was set to be featured in an exhibition on the Mall by the nonprofit Hagerty Drivers Foundation.
Warhol painted the car in under 30 minutes in 1979; the vehicle was then used in that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in its category and sixth overall, according to the Hagerty Drivers Foundation website.
The foundation’s “Cars at the Capital 2025” exhibition is now canceled, according to the foundation’s social media post on Thursday.
“On Wednesday afternoon there was a tragic accident in Washington D.C. during which a truck driver died while unloading a car. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to the individual’s family. Out of respect for the deceased, we will not comment further at this time, and have cancelled the events planned,” the Hagerty insurance company, parent to the nonprofit, said in a statement to car news website The Drive.
