Person of interest sought after car drives through security fences at South Carolina nuclear plant

Authorities in South Carolina are seeking a person of interest a day after a man drove a vehicle through security fences at a nuclear power station.

The incident occurred at the Oconee Nuclear Station Thursday night, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. A man operating a silver 2002 Toyota Camry approached the restricted area twice, though never accessed the plant, officials said.

The driver also attempted to hit a security truck with a guard in it while exiting the plant, police said.

Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw identified the person of interest as Doyle Wayne Whisenhunt, 66, of Lockesburg, Arkansas. He is wanted on drugs and weapons charges out of Arkansas, the sheriff said. Investigators are working to determine if Whisenhunt was the driver of the Toyota Camry, Crenshaw said.

It’s unclear why the driver went to the nuclear plant, the sheriff said.

“At this point in our investigation, we don’t have any evidence that this is any type of domestic terroristic event,” Crenshaw told reporters during a press briefing Friday afternoon.

Crenshaw said potential charges for a suspect apprehended in the incident could include trespassing, malicious injury to property “and possibly attempted murder, as far as his action toward one of the security officers.”

The driver of the Toyota Camry first approached the nuclear station Thursday evening, then drove away when security asked him to leave, authorities said. About an hour later, he returned and drove through an administrative gate, the sheriff’s office said.

“After the vehicle struck the pop-up barricades that security at the plant activated, the driver backed the vehicle up and proceeded down a dirt road, where Duke Energy security blocked the vehicle in, according to Deputies,” a press release from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office read. “The driver then drove through a fence after attempting to hit the security officers.”

The driver then reportedly drove out of the exit of the plant where he attempted to hit a security truck with a guard in it, police said.

The man drove into Pickens County and pulled onto residential property on Jones Mill Road where shots were subsequently fired, authorities said.

The homeowner told authorities he had fired warning shots, and the suspect drove away, Crenshaw said.

The Toyota Camry was located Friday afternoon in Pickens County, Crenshaw said. It was unoccupied, he said.

The nuclear station reported the security incident to authorities around 8:05 p.m. Thursday, the sheriff’s office said. No one was injured, Duke Energy said.

The nuclear station is “operating safely,” Duke Energy said.

“Duke Energy has comprehensive security plans and a well-trained security workforce in place,” the company said in a statement. “A vehicle entered an administrative gate, but was not able to access the plant due to our multiple layers of security.”

The FBI said it was aware of the incident, but deferred to the local sheriff’s office for any information related to the case.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the body that oversees nuclear plants in the United States, told ABC News the incident was “monitored closely throughout the night,” and said Duke Energy proactively informed the commission.

“The plant continues to operate safely, the public remains safe, and all U.S. nuclear power plants are operating at their normal security levels,” a spokesperson said.