Arkansas man arrested, accused of driving via South Carolina nuclear energy plant safety fences

Harris Marley
Harris Marley

World Courant

An Arkansas man, accused of breaching safety fences on the Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina, has been discovered and arrested, authorities confirmed Friday.

In accordance with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Workplace, 66-year-old Doyle Wayne Whisenhunt, of Lockesburg, was arrested Friday night.

He’s additionally needed on medicine and weapons fees in Arkansas, the sheriff’s workplace stated.

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Authorities stated that at roughly 3 p.m., deputies discovered an deserted silver 2002 Toyota Camry within the woods that they believed to be concerned within the Thursday incident.

MAN IN SC ACCUSED OF DRIVING THROUGH OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION SECURITY FENCES, SEARCH UNDERWAY

Doyle Wayne Whisenhunt of Arkansas was taken into custody in Pickens County, S.C. (Pickens County Sheriff’s Workplace )

Police stated Whisenhunt allegedly deserted his automobile at 9 p.m. Thursday, and was discovered hiding from authorities in an deserted constructing within the woods Friday, police stated.

Authorities stated Whisenhunt was taken into custody with out incident.

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Duke Power says Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina is among the nation’s largest nuclear vegetation, with three nuclear reactors.  (Duke Power)

It’s nonetheless unclear why Whisenhunt went to the nuclear plant, Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw stated.

“At this level in our investigation, we have no proof that that is any sort of home terroristic occasion,” Crenshaw stated throughout a press briefing.

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At 8 p.m. Thursday, Whisenhunt allegedly drove his Camry via the exit aspect of the gate on the Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca.

“After the automobile struck the pop-up barricades that safety on the plant activated, the motive force backed the automobile up and proceeded down a mud street, the place Duke Power safety blocked the automobile in, in keeping with deputies. The motive force then drove via a fence after making an attempt to hit the safety officers,” in keeping with the sheriff’s workplace launch.

Inventory photograph of a silver 2002 Toyota Camry, the kind of automobile Doyle Wayne Whisenhunt, allegedly drove via the fence of a South Carolina nuclear energy plant. (Oconee County Sheriff’s Workplace)

Deputies stated whereas Whisenhunt was making an attempt to exit the power, he as soon as once more tried to hit a safety truck with a guard in it.

Whisenhunt then drove into Pickens County and pulled onto a residential property on Jones Mill Street, the place photographs had been fired, authorities stated.

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In accordance with Oconee Nuclear Station operator Duke Power, its Oconee facility is among the nation’s largest nuclear vegetation with three nuclear reactors. The ability started working in 1973, and has generated greater than 500 million megawatt hours of electrical energy. 

Officers stated that Whisenhunt is dealing with a number of fees, together with trespassing, malicious harm to property and tried homicide.

Fox Information Digital’s Pilar Arias contributed to this report.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking information author for Fox Information Digital and Fox Enterprise. 

She is a local of Massachusetts and relies in Orlando, Florida.

Story ideas and concepts may be despatched to [email protected] and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten.


Arkansas man arrested, accused of driving via South Carolina nuclear energy plant safety fences

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