Officials Update On Middlesex Hospital Emergency Department

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Middlesex Hospital’s normal Emergency Department remains closed in the aftermath of a man intentionally crashing his car into the emergency room entrance and lighting himself on fire last week. In a Tuesday night update, Mayor Dan Drew said the city’s Building and Health department staffs are “working closely with Middlesex Hospital officials in getting the ER up and running again.”

“They are making good progress and we, with the hospital, will keep the community posted about any changes,” Drew said in a post on Facebook. “In the meantime, please continue to follow these guidelines:

“-call 911 in the event of a medical emergency. EMTs and paramedics will know what to do and where to go.

“-you can go to the main entrance of Middlesex Hospital as a ‘walk in’ emergency patient and security will direct you to the appropriate medical personnel.

“-all other Middlesex facilities are operating normally.

“We continue to work closely with hospital staff to ensure the community's health and safety and again, I'd like to thank hospital staff, police, and firefighters for their quick response on Thursday. We will keep you posted when things change.”

Steven Ellam, 27, remains in critical condition at the burn center at Bridgeport Hospital. Ellam, who had several cans of gasoline inside the car, set himself on fire after the crash last Thursday morning, which he recorded on Facebook Live. FOX 61 reports that Ellam can be heard in the Facebook Live video saying" Donald Trump, where are you? My name's Jesus Christ. I'm in Middletown, Connecticut and I am going to attack one of your headquarters right now. Middlesex Hospital is not safe."

Also in the video, Ellam says that he's come to expose Trump as the "anti-Christ, protecting the Illuminati, the one percent," according to the Hartford Courant. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

Middlesex Hospital has opened a temporary Emergency Department in its outpatient surgical services area while work is being done to get the normal department back up and running.

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