A 26-year-old woman was allegedly doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train near Clark/Lake just before 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. Firefighters extinguished the flames at the station and the victim was taken to hospital with severe burns and remains in critical condition. The 45-year-old suspect fled but a person of interest was taken into custody the following day as the investigation continues. Authorities are urging anyone with video or information to come forward.
Woman Doused and Set Ablaze on Chicago CTA Blue Line; Person of Interest in Custody
A 26-year-old woman was allegedly doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train near Clark/Lake just before 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. Firefighters extinguished the flames at the station and the victim was taken to hospital with severe burns and remains in critical condition. The 45-year-old suspect fled but a person of interest was taken into custody the following day as the investigation continues. Authorities are urging anyone with video or information to come forward.
06:54 AM, 11/19/2025Security
A 26-year-old woman remains in critical condition after a man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on her and set her on fire aboard a Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train late on Nov. 17.
The incident occurred just before 9:30 p.m. as the train approached the Clark/Lake station in the Loop. Police say the encounter began as a verbal argument between the woman and a 45-year-old man and escalated into violence when the man reportedly ignited the liquid on the victim.
When the train reached the platform, the woman collapsed and firefighters on scene extinguished the flames before police arrived. She was transported to a hospital with severe burns over much of her body and is listed in critical condition.
"She looked like she was in an awful lot of pain," a witness recalled, describing the scene on the platform.
Authorities say the suspect fled the station after the attack. On Nov. 18, police confirmed they had taken a person of interest into custody; the investigation remains active and details about charges or motive have not been released.
Officials have asked anyone with information, photos, or video of the incident to contact investigators to help establish the full sequence of events and identify additional witnesses.
Note: This account is based on official police statements and witness reports. Further updates will depend on the ongoing investigation and any charging decisions by prosecutors.