A 26-year-old woman was critically burned after a man allegedly poured a liquid on her and set her alight aboard a Chicago "L" train. The suspect, described as about 45, fled when the train stopped and has not been arrested. The victim was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition; witnesses described her as in a "really bad state." CTA service on affected lines was suspended for hours while police continue to investigate.
Woman Critically Burned After Being Set Ablaze on Chicago 'L' Train; Suspect at Large
A 26-year-old woman was critically burned after a man allegedly poured a liquid on her and set her alight aboard a Chicago "L" train. The suspect, described as about 45, fled when the train stopped and has not been arrested. The victim was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition; witnesses described her as in a "really bad state." CTA service on affected lines was suspended for hours while police continue to investigate.
02:42 AM, 11/19/2025Security
Woman Critically Burned on Chicago "L" Train; Suspect Still at Large
A 26-year-old woman remains in critical condition after a man allegedly poured an unknown liquid on her and set her on fire while she was riding a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) "L" train on Monday night, police said.
The incident began as a verbal dispute between the woman and a man described by authorities as about 45 years old. Police say the argument escalated when the man poured a liquid onto the woman and ignited it; officials have not yet identified the substance used.
When the train stopped, the suspect fled the scene. The woman, who had caught fire, exited the car and collapsed on the platform. The flames were extinguished before officers arrived and paramedics transported her to Stroger Hospital in critical condition with severe burns.
CTA service on the affected lines was suspended for several hours and resumed around 1:30 a.m., with trains reported to be running on schedule by Tuesday morning. Police say an investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
"I just saw a lady that was laying in the ground, and they were trying to give her CPR," a witness told NBC Chicago. "And she looked like she was in an awful lot of pain." Another witness described the woman as being in a "really bad state" as paramedics loaded her into an ambulance.
Authorities are asking anyone with information, dashcam or cellphone video to contact Chicago police. The department has not released the names of the victim or the suspect and continues to appeal for tips as the investigation progresses.