A man crashed a vehicle into a barricade near the US Congress and opened fire in the street before committing suicide as the car burst into flames.

No one else was injured in the 4 a.m. incident, which began when the unidentified man crashed his car into a barricade at East Capitol Street and Second Street in Washington, DC, according to US police.

The car "was engulfed in flames", when the driver got out and then he "fired several shots in the air", said the police, reports

.

After Capitol Police officers approached the man, he fatally shot himself.

"At this time, it does not appear that the man was targeting any members of Congress, who are on leave, and it does not appear that the officers fired their weapons," the release said.

The DC Metropolitan Police Department is conducting an investigation into the matter, the Capitol Police said in a statement.