USA: President Joe Biden visits graves of wife and daughter killed in car crash

 7 hrs ago

Joe Biden has visited the graves of his first wife and infant daughter, as he marks 49 years since they were killed in a car crash.© Associated Press Joe Biden at the grave of his late wife and daughter, who died 49 years ago. Pic: AP

The US president visited St Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday with First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley.© Associated Press Mr Biden was joined by his wife on his visit. Pic: AP

Mr Biden’s then-wife, Neilia, and 13-month-old daughter Naomi lost their lives in the tragedy in 1972, which happened as they were on their way to pick out a Christmas tree – not long after he had been elected to the Senate.© Associated Press Hunter Biden and his son Beau joined the president on the visit. Pic: AP

His sons Hunter and Beau, who were aged three and four at the time, survived but suffered serious injuries.

Beau Biden died from brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.

The car crash was a defining moment for the president, and helped shape his personal life and political career.

Mr Biden later remarried Dr Jill Biden, whom he shares daughter Ashley with.

He visits the church annually, and was this year joined by Hunter, as well as other family members and friends.

The visit came days before the president is due to deliver a speech about the spread of the Omicron variant and steps the White House will take to help people in need.

Mr Biden is expected to issue a “stark warning of what winter will look like for Americans that choose to remain unvaccinated” on Tuesday, amid a spike in case numbers.

The administration is “prepared for rising case levels” with Mr Biden ready to outline how his team will “respond to the challenge”, a White House official said.