Man crashes car into Connecticut hospital, sets himself on fire

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Steven Ellam, a man with a violent criminal history dating back more than a decade, intentionally rammed his car through the emergency room entrance at Middlesex Hospital on Thursday morning before setting himself ablaze, officials said. They have not said what motivated the act.

Ellam, 27, lives on Milardo Lane, where federal, state and local authorities have been staging through the day waiting for court approval to search the home for explosives and other evidence, officials said. “This is a precautionary measure,” Mayor Dan Drew said.

About 10 a.m., Ellam crashed his car through the hospital doors on Crescent Street, then doused himself in a liquid and ignited himself, said Police Chief William McKenna. The ensuing fire prompted an extensive response from city firefighters and police. In video shared with the Hartford Courant by a witness, smoke and flames billowed out of the entrance as medical staff treated Ellam on the sidewalk outside the doors.

Ellam was flown to Bridgeport Hospital, but officials said they did not know his condition as of Thursday afternoon.

Bomb squads from Hartford and state police converged on the hospital and searched the car, finding cans with flammable liquid inside, Drew said. Those liquids have been sent to the state lab for testing.

Officials said Ellam’s act was intentional, but said they could not yet comment on a motive. When asked if it was an act of terrorism, Drew further declined to comment on his motivation.

A hospital security guard was hospitalized for smoke inhalation while apparently evacuating patients and staff following the crash, said Middlesex Vice President of Operations David Giuffrida.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives responded. FBI New Haven Division Chief Patricia Ferrick said: “The FBI is assisting local law enforcement with this unfolding investigation at Middlesex Hospital.”

Drew said the city increased security at public facilities, including schools, but only as a precaution.

“I want to make clear that the people of Middletown are safe, we believe this was an isolated incident and we believe that there is no threat to the community,” Drew said at a late afternoon news conference.

Captain Gary Wallace said officers made an initial sweep of Ellam’s Milardo Lane home to determine if anyone else was in danger, but then left the house to apply for a search warrant.

Ellam has an extensive criminal history that began when he was 14, Wallace said.

According to Connecticut’s criminal convictions database, Ellam was sentenced to 33 months in prison for an attack on a woman in June 2013 in Middletown. He pleaded guilty to first-degree strangulation, interfering with police officers, and violating probation. Middletown police said at the time that Ellam accused the woman of having sinned, and that he told her she would have to repent. Police said the badly beaten woman was able to call 911.