Police: Man who crashed into Middletown plant and caused evacuations was driving ‘unsafe speeds’

A Middletown man who crashed his vehicle into the Air Products facility on Yankee Road on Friday was driving “unsafe speeds,” according to a Middletown police report.

Brandon Hisey, 22, was driving a 2000 Mitsubishi northbound on Yankee Road when he crossed over railroad tracks, lost control and hit several natural gas lines, the report read. The posted speed limit on Yankee Road is 35 mph, but the report didn’t say how fast Hisey was driving.

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Hisey was taken to Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, then flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, where he was listed in critical condition this morning, a hospital official said.

His mother, Jennifer Hisey, said he suffered third-degree burns on his face and arms and second-degree burns over the rest of his body.

“It will be a long road” to recovery,” she said today.

Police and fire crews were called to the scene at 3:30 p.m. Friday and some residents near the plant at 2500 Yankee and on Meadow Avenue were evacuated, according to Middletown Police Chief David Birk.

Fire Chief Paul Lolli said there were no injuries to residents, employees of Air Products or firefighters.

Lolli said heavy flames were shooting 30 to 40 feet into the air. He said other gas lines were located in proximity to the fire and they were shut off.

Lolli said the situation would have been “a lot worse.”

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