The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Man who crashed into Middlesex Hospital dies
Police: He worked alone, was an isolated incident
MIDDLETOWN — The city man who officials said intentionally rammed his car into the Middlesex Hospital emergency room on Feb. 22 died just over a week after he was airlifted to the Bridgeport Hospital burn unit.
Steven Ellam, 27, set himself on fire following the 10 a.m. crash, officials said.
Ellam died overnight, a hospital spokesman said Friday morning. He had been in critical condition since he arrived at the hospital.
Ellam was carrying a number of gas cans with flammable liquid inside the silver sedan he crashed into the hospital, officials said. Ellam drove down Crescent Street and hit the building, traveling inside, officials said.
About 30 people and 20 staff members were in the emergency room at the time, but there were no serious injuries reported. A hospital security guard trying to get people to safety after the impact was treated for smoke inhalation.
Ellam streamed the crash live on Facebook. In the 2½-minute video taken as he drove to the hospital,
Ellam spoke in a flat voice, referred to himself several times as Jesus Christ and appeared to address the president.
Despite a lengthy criminal record going back to age 14, some who knew Ellam said he was a gifted and giving person trying to get his life together.
Middletown police on Friday said the investigation into the crash is ongoing, with assistance from the FBI and other agencies.
“The evidence in this investigation, thus far, has revealed that Ellam’s actions were intended to cause harm to others, yet we believe this incident was isolated and Ellam worked alone, as the sole source, in the outcome of the event,” Police Chief William McKenna said in an email. “At this time, there are no indications of any further threats of violence to the hospital or the Middletown community.”
During the investigation, officials also searched Ellam’s house on Milardo Lane. It is unclear if anything was found or taken from the home.
Anyone who has information is asked to contact Middletown police at 860-638-4140.