Woman Burned After Suspect Allegedly Lights Gas Pump — A 41-year-old woman filling her Volvo at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg suffered second-degree burns when another woman, identified as Eleanor Crawford, allegedly ignited gasoline at the pump after borrowing the victim's phone and asking for money. The victim was taken to Tampa General Hospital and is expected to survive but face a long recovery. Crawford was arrested nearby and faces attempted felony murder and arson charges, with bond set at $350,000.
St. Petersburg Gas Station Attack: Woman Allegedly Sets Stranger Ablaze After Borrowing Phone
Image Credit: St. Petersburg Police Department.
A 41-year-old woman pumping gas at a Mobil station in St. Petersburg was seriously burned after another woman allegedly ignited gasoline at the pump nozzle, St. Petersburg police say.
The incident occurred at about 8 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the Mobil station located at 101 40th Avenue North. Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford. Investigators say Crawford approached the victim while she was filling a Volvo SUV, asked to use the woman's phone and then requested money.
When the victim refused, authorities allege Crawford produced a lighter and set gasoline at the nozzle on fire. The resulting blaze quickly engulfed the vehicle and caused serious injuries to the woman.
Eyewitness Scotty Gramling, who had already called the police non-emergency line after seeing an earlier altercation involving Crawford across the street, told reporters officers were en route when the flames erupted. Gramling ran to the scene, helped the injured woman into his truck and called 911; he later described the explosion of flames as a "fireball."
The victim was transported to Tampa General Hospital with second-degree burns to her arms and back. Assistant Police Chief Mike Kovacsev said she is expected to survive but will likely face a lengthy recovery.
Officers located and arrested Crawford a couple of blocks from the scene shortly after the fire. Pinellas County jail records show she is booked on attempted felony murder and arson charges, with combined bond set at $350,000. Those records also indicate a prior July 21 arrest in Gulfport on charges of battery on a law-enforcement officer and resisting without violence; she was later released on supervised recognizance on Aug. 27.
Legal Note: All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Police say the two women did not know one another and that investigators have not yet established a motive. The investigation remains active.
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