Epileptic Man Hits Gas Substation in Gulfport

A Gulfport man has been hospitalized with serious injuries at U.S.A. Hospital in Mobile after a weekend accident. Family members say the accident happened after Dylan Kent, 22, had an epileptic seizure while driving Saturday afternoon.

Kent was thrown from his vehicle as it crashed into a gas substation, causing a gas leak and the evacuation of residents of nearby homes near the Crossroads Parkway. The gas leak was contained eight hours after the one vehicle crash. Family members say Kent was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years ago, but say his condition has been under control. News 25 spoke with a local neurologist, who doesn’t treat Kent, about epilepsy and driving.

Sgt. Damon McDaniel, Public Information Officer for the Gulfport Police Department, says, “We did notify all the sources, like for example, Center Point Energy, they came out and made their assessment as to what they could do and what they couldn’t do for safety reasons, and they did come out and after some time, they ended up shutting off that gas line.”

Police are now investigating the cause of the crash and how much damage was done.