Man arrested after trying to crash through gates at South Carolina nuclear plant

WALHALLA, S.C. — An Arkansas guy has been arrested for trying to crash through the go out gates of a South Carolina nuclear plant, government stated.

Doyle Wayne Whisenhunt, of Lockesburg, Arkansas, used to be taken into custody Friday evening at an deserted house in Pickens County, South Carolina, and transferred to the Oconee County sheriff’s place of business, the sheriff’s place of business introduced in a news unencumber.

Whisenhunt, 66, has been charged with one depend each and every of tried homicide, malicious damage to non-public assets, and illegal access into an enclosed position bearing on to the Thursday evening incident at the Oconee Nuclear Station.

An arrest warrant says Whisenhunt speeded up his automobile towards a Duke Energy safety officer whilst at the grounds of the nuclear station in an strive to reason hurt or dying.

Authorities additionally say Whisenhunt brought about injury to the gates and fencing outdoor the secured space of the ability by way of hitting them together with his automobile. Whisenhunt additionally trespassed onto the valuables of the nuclear station with out authorization, in accordance to the costs.

The sheriff’s place of business stated Whisenhunt used to be additionally charged in a separate incident with one depend of hit and run after he used to be thinking about a crash with every other automobile and failed to stay at the scene.

It used to be unclear whether or not Whisenhunt had criminal illustration. Emails and textual content messages left for the suspect and a relative weren’t returned.

The incident at the nuclear plant close to Seneca, South Carolina, came about about an hour after safety requested the similar automotive to depart when it attempted to input, government stated. A pop-up safety barrier stopped the auto with an Arkansas registration number plate at the ability round 8 p.m. Thursday.

The driving force subsidized up and attempted to power down a dust street as safety attempted to block them in. The driving force attempted to hit the guards, then drove through a fence and stale the nuclear plant assets, in accordance to government. None of the safety team of workers used to be injured, Duke Energy stated.

The Oconee Nuclear Station has 3 nuclear reactors and began producing energy 50 years in the past on Lake Keowee.